Ethiopia secures US$500 million to combat land degradation, bolster food security

ETHIOPIA – The Climate Investment Funds (CIF) has announced its support for Ethiopia’s US$500 million initiative to address widespread land degradation, protect forests, and enhance food security. 

The program, a critical component of Ethiopia’s climate resilience strategy, was unveiled as CIF committed US$37 million from its Nature, People, and Climate program. 

This funding is expected to catalyze US$492 million in co-financing from major development partners such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

The initiative comes as more than half of Ethiopia’s land experiences varying levels of degradation, threatening the livelihoods of a predominantly rural population dependent on agriculture. 

An estimated 11 million hectares are at risk of desertification, highlighting the urgency for comprehensive land restoration efforts.

Restoring ecosystems across regions

The funding aims to restore over 320,000 hectares of degraded land, including wild Arabica coffee forests, agricultural fields, and rangelands in the Amhara, Oromia, South Ethiopia, and Somali regions. 

As part of this effort, Ethiopia plans to develop an online registry to monitor its forests, a step intended to enhance transparency and resource management.

Paul Hartman, the lead for CIF’s nature programs, stated that the initiative addresses the dual challenges of climate change and land degradation that undermine the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers and pastoralists. 

He noted that integrating climate action with land restoration is critical for Ethiopia’s economic sustainability and agricultural productivity.

Multi-sectoral approach to climate resilience

The plan includes projects focusing on afforestation, reforestation, soil regeneration, water conservation, and sustainable farming practices. 

These interventions aim to support poverty reduction and boost agricultural output in a country where food security remains a pressing concern.

Approximately half of the required funding has already been secured from co-investors, with the remainder expected to come from private and philanthropic sources. This diverse funding model reflects a growing recognition of the need for investment in climate resilience initiatives.

Global context: Tackling land degradation

The announcement coincides with global talks on land degradation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where policymakers and stakeholders are discussing strategies to combat environmental challenges. 

Hartman emphasized the importance of integrating biodiversity and climate change goals into national policies, urging countries to prioritize land restoration as part of their broader climate agendas.

Elsewhere, nations are aligning financial policies with climate commitments. Australia recently confirmed its decision to cease international financing for fossil fuel projects, reinforcing pledges made during COP28 last year. 

The World Bank has also committed US$100 billion for climate-focused development projects globally, mirroring the urgency of mobilizing resources to build climate-resilient economies.