New forests programme will protect climate, nature and people in Ethiopia

Farm Africa and partners including SOS Sahel Ethiopia, NABU Ethiopia and ECFF have launched a new programme titled: “Harnessing Forests and Ecosystems for Climate – Nature – People Triple Win (HARNESS)” in the Oromia National Regional State and the South West Ethiopia Peoples’ National Regional State in Ethiopia.

The three-year initiative, funded by the Norway’s International Climate Forest Initiative (NICFI) through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ethiopia (RNE), aims to reduce and reverse deforestation and ecosystem degradation.

It also seeks to enhance climate resilience in Ethiopia by promoting an integrated landscape approach that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, biodiversity conservation and climate crisis mitigation across vulnerable forest landscapes.

The initiative will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by strengthening the implementation of policies and strategies in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) priority sectors, including forestry, agriculture, land use and energy.

This will be achieved through sustainable forest and land management, integrated land-use planning, the promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices, and the adoption of green energy solutions.

The project will facilitate the implementation of sustainable forest and land use policies by addressing the organisational, financial and technical gaps that are hindering the effective realization of ambitious policies in Ethiopia.

The HARNESS initiative builds on the best practices of previous programmes implemented by Farm Africa, SOS Sahel Ethiopia and their partners, particularly the recently closed Forests for Sustainable Development (FSD) programme.

Shewit Emmanuel, Ethiopia Country Director for Farm Africa, commented: “Farm Africa is proud to lead the HARNESS programme alongside our valued partners SOS Sahel Ethiopia, NABU Ethiopia and ECFF. This initiative represents a significant step forward in Ethiopia’s efforts to protect forests and ecosystems while building climate resilience. By promoting an integrated landscape approach, HARNESS will deliver a triple win for nature, people and the climate: helping communities reduce poverty, conserve biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis.

“We commend the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ethiopia and Norway’s International Climate Forest Initiative for their commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s ambitious climate and forest goals.”