Client: CIFOR-ICRAF
Target: Federal institutions, Tigray, AFAR and Amhara
Region: Federal and Regional

Key themes: Climate change is posing serious challenges to poverty eradication and economic development in Ethiopia. Conservative estimates suggest that climate change will reduce Ethiopia’s GDP by up to 10% by 2045, compared to 2011 baseline scenario, primarily through it impact on agricultural productivity. Ethiopia’s pastoral and agro-pastoral communities, as well as smallholder farmers in the highlands, are particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Over the past three decades, various public polices and institutional infrastructure were launched by the government to tackle the challenge. Since 2000, Ethiopia adopted several development programs to increase agricultural productivity, end poverty and achieve middle income status. Climate change is mainstreamed into these programs with specific projects designed to manage climate risks, both to agriculture and natural resources. Ethiopia has also subscribed to several international conventions on desertification andclimate change, including the Vienna Convention, UNCCD, UNFCCC and other subsidiary initiatives. It has also joined the GGW Initiative that involves 11 countries along the edge of the Sahara stretching to the Horn of Africa (see map).
 

The GGW has been conceived as a model to help in the fight against desertification, ensure ecosystem restoration and development of arid and semi-arid zones for sustainable management of resources. Ethiopia formally adopted the Initiative in 2011 with various layers of steering and technical committees constituted and a coordination office established to interface with funding agencies and align with the country’s development programs.
This document appraises the major projects involving integrated natural resource management and implemented in two phases of the GGW: 2011-2019 (phase one) and 2020-2030 (phase two) and how they are aligned with the GGW agenda for increased synergy and effectiveness. It provides a synthesis of Ethiopia’s policy initiatives, legislation and institutional aspects as well as the challenges in mobilizing funding. It draws on key lessons learned and the effectiveness of the GGW country office in coordinating the Initiative. The document is a product of desk review of available documents supplemented with key informant interviews and stakeholder consultations drawn from concerned ministries, agencies, research establishments, international NGOs and donor programs by the consulting firm – Agri-Bilcha Plc.