Planning, Dev’t Minister confers with representatives of KOICA and GGGI

Addis Ababa, September 2, 2023 (FBC) – Minister of Planning and Development, Fitsum Asefa discussed with representatives of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) on building climate resilience in Ethiopian cities through nature based solutions in urban and peri-urban Areas.

Promoting urban green transformation and promoting climate change is the main objective of the project, and in the discussion, the project’s feasibility and implementation arrangements were examined from all sides and the project was conceptually developed.

KIM Ji-Hee, Director of Climate Change, HONG II-Pyo, Chief Consultant of the KOICA and SONG Feel-Geun, Representatives of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Bethel Terefe, Program Advisor for KOICA Ethiopia Office were present in the meeting.

The GGGI and KOICA representative stated that the project is in line with national development frameworks like the CRGE plan and Climate Resilient strategies for the sectors.

The representative state that they had made a fruitful discussion and the project objective is to catalyse urban green transformation and to enhance climate resilience of the three selected Ethiopian cities through the application of Nature based solutions (NBS) that address interconnected climate threats while also mitigating developmental threats related to unsustainable and unplanned Urbanization.

Fitsum Asefa, for her part, said that the Planning and Development Ministry has been implementing various climate change interventions to tackle the impacts of climate change and strengthened good practices and lessons on effective implementation adaptation and mitigation projects/programs nationally and the government of Ethiopia is more committed by doing different climate actions and measures to have environmental, social and economic sustainability.

The project will be focusing mainly on Urban resilient through Restoring the ecosystems, afforestation, reforestation and others related Nature based solution, it is stated.

Through effective implementation of nature based solution, the project will have Environmental, Social and Economic benefits for the national contexts.

It has been suggested that the 6-year project will be implemented in Addis Ababa and Jimma.