Ethiopia

Why Ethiopia?

Every year, thousands more hectares of forest are lost as a growing population drives increased demand for crop and grazing land, timber and firewood. This is having a devastating effect on the communities who depend on the land for their survival. They are increasingly experiencing loss of soil fertility leading to declining farm productivity, and more frequent and intense droughts and floods.

These worsening conditions are deepening poverty, which is driving many families to migrate to other parts of Ethiopia in search of a better life. The Ethiopian Government has recognised the need for urgent action and has made an international commitment through the Bonn Challenge to restore 15 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

Over 85% of Ethiopia’s land area is moderately to severely degraded.

According to the FAO, over 2.19 million hectares of forest area were lost between 1990 and 2020.

Approximately 75% of land in Ethiopia is affected by desertification.

Ethiopia FMNR Catalyst Project

This project will contribute to the national FMNR target by introducing or strengthening FMNR activities within existing child sponsorship-funded Area Programs and grant-funded projects in Afar, Amhara, Central Ethiopia, Oromia, South Ethiopia, Southwest Ethiopia and Tigray. These locations have been prioritised because they have some of the highest proportions of degraded land in Ethiopia.

2.5 million

hectares of land under restoration

5 years

The project will be running from June 2023 – July 2028

Project outcomes

In order to regenerate 2.5 million hectares of land, the project aims to address current land degradation issues in the prioritised project locations, as well as mobilise partners and communities to spread FMNR beyond these sites. By scaling FMNR in this way, communities experiencing significant challenges due to land degradation can mitigate and adapt to climate change, rapidly restore their environments, and better provide for their children.

World Vision’s direct FMNR programming reach is expanded.

Directly support communities to adopt FMNR through World Vision projects and programs.

FMNR will be integrated into existing World Vision child sponsorship programs and grant-funded projects, led by a newly formed Regreening Committee. New FMNR demonstration and learning sites will be established and existing ones strengthened, with farmer cooperatives learning how to manage these sites.

World Vision technical staff and key leaders will be trained in FMNR techniques and how to integrate these into existing livelihood development activities.

Increased adoption and promotion of FMNR by external partners.

Mobilise and empower partners like governments, donors and other NGOs to spread FMNR independent of World Vision.

Multi-stakeholder networks and regional working groups will be established and strengthened for improved cooperation and coordination around a common goal and shared action plan for FMNR scaling.

Staff from external partners will be trained how to practise FMNR and to teach others how to practise it as well. This training will include visits to demonstration and learning sites.

External partners will also be trained how to mobilise funding to support their own FMNR scaling activities. Project scaling partners will be encouraged and supported to map and share data.

Increased organic spread and adoption of FMNR by individuals at the community level.

Catalyse the widespread adoption and person-to person spread of FMNR at community level.

Strengthened enabling environment to promote FMNR scaling in Ethiopia.

Create an environment that incentivises FMNR adoption and spread by responding to context specific barriers and opportunities.

Local level advocacy will be conducted to strengthen existing land and forestry policies and improve their implementation. Farmer cooperatives will be trained and supported to monitor policy implementation and develop community action plans. Income generation opportunities linked to FMNR will be identified and community members trained how to develop these, and find profitable markets for their products.

Get involved

Anyone can join the global FMNR movement by learning the technique, spreading awareness, participating in local projects, or supporting projects that directly implement FMNR to restore degraded lands and build sustainable futures for children and the communities they live in.

Contact us

Donate