Addis Ababa, October 21, 2024 (FBC) – People in Need in collaboration with the Embassy of the Czech Republic, organized a professional forum focused on Enhancing Expert Partnerships to strengthen Ethiopia’s resilience against climate change through sustainable landscape management.
The forum convened government officials, agricultural experts, policymakers, farmers, and stakeholders to explore strategies for enhancing Ethiopia’s ongoing initiatives to combat the effects of climate change.
The objective was to foster collaboration among experts to develop sustainable solutions to environmental issues. Among the pressing environmental challenges highlighted were deforestation, soil erosion, and landscape degradation, with discussions centered on potential remedies to address these concerns.
The forum also explored ways of enhancing the role of youths in addressing climate-related challenges that Ethiopia and the world at large continue grappling with.
In his remarks at the forum, Ambassador of Czech Republic to Ethiopia, Miroslav Kosek, said his country is working with People In Need, government bodies and various stakeholders to contribute to Ethiopia’s efforts bequeath sustainable landscape for future generations.
“Climate resilience is not only a global priority, but also an urgent challenge that requires immediate action,” the Ambassador noted.
The forum enabled participants to explore mechanism to improve existing practices, innovate, and work together towards assisting Ethiopia’s endeavors to combat climate challenges, according to the Ambassador.
“By bringing together experts, policy makers, and practitioners, we can share valuable knowledge, develop new solutions, and create effective strategies that would help promote climate action,” he said.
“Ethiopia has been a priority country for our development cooperation. We are dedicated to building sustainable solutions through partnerships involving key stakeholders,” the Ambassador said.
Mitiku Ayela, an advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, emphasized the serious challenges Ethiopia faces due to climate change, deforestation, and land degradation. “We gather here not just to celebrate our achievements but also to tackle the pressing issues of natural resource management and climate change,” he stated.
He highlighted that Ethiopia has initiated several programs to address these challenges, notably the Green Legacy Initiative launched by the Prime Minister in 2019, aimed at combating deforestation and encouraging tree planting. “Thanks to the combined efforts in line with the Green Legacy Initiative, Ethiopia’s forest coverage has increased significantly, rising from 17.2% in 2019 to 23% in 2023,” he said.
Mitiku also expressed the government’s desire for development partnerships and collaboration with the private sector and civil society. He pointed to organizations like People in Need, which, with support from the Czech government and other donors, have made valuable contributions through projects focused on sustainable land management.
During the event, farmers in the Sidama Region, supported by People in Need and the Czech government, demonstrated their sustainable agricultural practices. The forum also addressed key topics such as promoting youth employment in sustainable agriculture, expanding successful practices, and the development of farmers’ training centers and seed banks.