Proposal for Gef Funding

PROPOSAL FOR GEF FUNDING

National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment (NCSA) For Global Environmental Management

Country Name: Ethiopia

Project Title: National Capacity Needs Self-Assessment (NCSA) for Global Environmental Management

GEF Implementing Agency: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

GEF Operational Focal Point: Tewolde Berehan Gebre Egziabher (Dr.), General Manager, Environmental Protection Authority

National Executing Agency: Environmental Protection Authority

Country Eligibility: Ethiopia is eligible for funding under paragraph 9(b) of the Instrument and meets all other eligibility requirements for GEF funding.

Convention Participation:

Convention / Date of Ratification /
Accession /

National Focal Point

UNCBD / 28th May 1993 / Dr. Tewolde Berehan Gebre Egziabher, General Manager, Environmental Protection Authority.
UNFCCC / 5th April 1994 / Mr. Bekuretsion Kassahun, General Manager, National Meteorological Services Agency.
UNCCD / 27th June 1997 / Mr. Getachew Eshete, Head, Ecosystems Department, EPA

GEF Financing: US$130,000

Government Contribution: US$15,000

Estimated Total Budget: US$145,000

Estimated Starting Date: July 1, 2003

Duration: 12 months

List of Acronyms

ADLI Agricultural Development Lead Industrialization

ARDU Arsi Rural Development Unity

EPA Environment Protection Authority

EHT Ethiopian Heritage Trust

EWNHS Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society

CADU Chilalo Agricultural development Unity

CBD Convention on Biological Diversity

CSE Conservation Strategy of Ethiopia

FAO Food Agricultural Programme

FNCCAP Framework National Climate Change Action Plan

GEF Global Environment Facility

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GHG Greenhouse Gas

IBRC Institute of Biological and Conservation Research

MEDaC Ministry of Economic Development and Corporation

MPP Minimum Package Programme

NCSA National Capacity Needs Self -Assessment

NGO Non Governmental Organizations

NMSA National Meteorological Service Agency

NMVOC Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds

SIDA Swedish International Development Authority

SLUP Strategic Land Use Plans

SRCP Soil Research Conservation Project

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

UNITAR United Nations International Training and Research

WADU Wolayta Agricultural development Unity

WFP World Food Programme

I Background, Context and Related Work

Physical and Socio-economic Context

1.  Ethiopia has an enormous ecological diversity and huge wealth of biological resources as a result of its geographical position, range of altitude and soil variability. The altitude ranges from 116m below sea level to 4620m, which, together with the substantial temperature and rainfall differences, provide a wide range of ecological conditions offering suitable environments for a wide range of life forms. Vegetation types in Ethiopia are highly diverse and recent work indicates that the number of higher plants is over 7000 species of which 12% is endemic. The total number of woody plants is estimated at 1000, out of which about 300 are tree species.

2.  About 35% of the land of Ethiopia was once upon time covered with high forests and about 66% of the country was covered by tree-dominated ecosystems. The Ethiopian forests are sources of the genetic base/pool for several commercial plants. Plants that are largely cultivated on a global scale include Coffea arabica and Phytolacca dodecandra. The Ethiopian genetic pool is a home for several plants that have medicinal, food, fodder, fiber, cosmetic values, and are habitats for many wild animals including birds. Although limited studies have been undertaken to date, numerous categories of terrestrial and aquatic resources with high level of endemism have been recorded, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Domestic animals that are known to have originated from elsewhere have also engendered secondary variation in Ethiopia. Although there are no substantial studies on microbial resources, preliminary assessments also demonstrate the existence of various types and species of microbes in the country.

3.  Ethiopia’s major environmental problem is land degradation. Land degradation in Ethiopia is aggravated by soil erosion, deforestation and overgrazing, with their concomitant impact on the loss of biodiversity and water resource degradation. The annual forest loss of the high forests of Ethiopia is estimated at 200,000 ha. Over time, the human and economic pressures reduced natural high forests to 16% by the 1950s, 3.6% by 1980s, and 2.7% by 1989 and further to about 2.5% by 1999. Poverty estimated at 45% of the 67 million Ethiopians is the underlying cause of deforestation, forcing people to convert forestland into agricultural land and to rely on forest products for energy, construction and income generation. Water pollution especially in urban and sub-urban areas as well as pollution induced by reckless disposal of plastic bags is also becoming a challenge and major environmental problem in Ethiopia.

4.  The physical environment and living organisms constitute the foundation upon which agricultural production and food security is based, with the economic needs of rural populations in Ethiopia being met, more or less entirely, by renewable natural resources. Even most of the needs of urban Ethiopians are met by the same natural resources taken from the rural environment. For Ethiopia and its people, agriculture remains by far the most important economic sector. The agricultural sector directly supports about 85% of the population in terms of employment and livelihood, contributes about 50% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), generates about 90% of the export earnings, and supplies about 70% of the raw material requirement of agro-based domestic industries (MEDaC, 1999).

5.  The integration of the environmental concerns of Ethiopia into development planning provides an opportunity for mitigating environmental degradation whilst contributing to improved land management and food self-sufficiency. At the same time, the conservation and sustainable utilization of Ethiopia's biodiversity will provide benefits in terms of traditional medication, improving agricultural productivity and providing other services, thereby contributing to national development, food security and poverty alleviation.

Environmental Institutions

6.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the key environmental protection organ of Ethiopia. The EPA is assigned full responsibility by the Government to facilitate and effectively coordinate organizations for environmental development and management activities In addition to environmental protection, the EPA is responsible for regulation and monitoring sustainable use of environmental resources, avoiding potential resource conflicts and duplication of efforts. The EPA has 100 staff members that include administrative, technical and field staff. It is the focal point for CBD and CCD activities and has been designated the focal point for GEF since 1997. (See Annex B for the EPA structure).

7.  The Ministry of Water Resources is responsible for the formulation of water resources policy, management standard setting as well as water resources management and development. Through the National Meteorological Services Agency (NMSA), the Ministry is also responsible for meteorological and other activities related to atmospheric and climatic change aspects, and thus the focal point for UNFCCC. The Ministry is also responsible for minimizing or curbing environmental degradation caused by widespread use of the bio-fuels, and aims at reversing the deteriorating environmental situation by promoting more environmentally friendly, cost-effective and sustainable energy supplies.

8.  The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the preparation of federal policy and strategies to alleviate land degradation. Moreover, the Ministry is providing technical assistance to the Regional Development Bureaus in their various efforts at combating land degradation, for example through soil and water conservation, afforestation and reforestation programmes, rangeland management improving agricultural production, as well as to supporting other technology, regulatory and extension service departments.

9.  The Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research (IBCR) is a Government agency that was established to develop and conserve biological resources of the country. The mandates given to the IBCR, among others, are to:

·  Ensure that Ethiopia’s biological resources are conserved, developed, managed, and sustainably used;

·  Lead exploration, assessment identification, collection, systematic evaluation, and research on biological resources of the country;

·  Build scientific capacities for the study, conservation and development of the country’s biological resources;

·  Integrate programmes for biodiversity conservation and development into national and regional development strategies and plans;

·  Encourage the participation and support of local communities in biodiversity conservation and development;

·  Ensure that farmers/communities share the benefits accrued as a result of using indigenous genetic resources among others.

10.  The Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources Education, Rural (Capacity) Development, Finance and Economic Development, Health and Industry are all represented in the Environmental Protection Council. The Council meets once a year and directly reports to the Prime Minister. The Ministries are all members of the Council, and are fully represented by their institutional heads, alongside collaborating institutions such as IBCR and NMSA as well as private sector and non-governmental organizations.

11.  There is an encouraging involvement of NGOs in Ethiopia, particularly in the conservation and development of the forest resources of the country. Activities include the introduction of Participatory Forest Management (PFM), awareness creation, and distribution of tree seedlings for production and conservation purposes (e.g. FARM Africa, SOS Sahel, Lem Ethiopia, Ethiopian Heritage Trust (EHT), Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (EWNHS etc). A number of NGOs have focused on the improvement of energy supply and consumption through the development of fast growing tree species, and improvement of energy efficiency through the use of improved stoves.

12.  About 94 Non Governmental Organizations are also involved in activities related to National Action Programme for the implementation of the Convention to Combat Desertification. The common major projects and programs performed by the NGOs are as follows:

·  Integrated Agricultural Development

·  Pastoral Development

·  Environmental Training and Institution Building

·  Forest Conservation and development Activities

·  Soil and Water Conservation

·  Increasing non Agriculture income

·  Rural Credit

·  Participatory Community Management of Natural Resources

·  Irrigation

·  Community forest program

·  Participatory Planning

·  Pastoral development

·  Rural water development

·  Energy resources development and conservation

·  Land use and farm forestry program

·  Rural Credits

·  Food Resources Development

·  Horticulture

·  Poultry

·  Option for Rural life (Intensive farming)

Environmental Legislation

Conservation Strategy and Environmental Policy

13.  To mitigate problems of widespread degradation of natural resources and the environment in Ethiopia, measures are under consideration and various policies and laws have been put in place. The core of all these policies, the Environmental Policy of Ethiopia, demonstrates that environment sustainability is recognized as a key prerequisite for many policies and strategies (EPA, 1997a). The forerunner of the Environment Policy, the Conservation Strategy of Ethiopia (CSE) encompasses 10 sectors and 10 cross-sectoral environmental policies. For example one of the 10 sectoral policies is Climate Change and Air Pollution (EPA, 1997b). The major overall objectives of this sectoral policy are to:

·  Promote climate monitoring programs as the country is sensitive to changes in climate;

·  Recognize that a firm and demonstrable commitment to the principle of containing climate change is essential and to take appropriate measures for a moral position from which to deal with the rest of the world so as to bring about its containment by those countries which produce large quantities of GHGs; and

·  Foster use of hydro, geothermal, solar and wind energy so as to minimize emission of GHGs

14.  The Conservation Strategy aims at developing and conserving the biological resources of the country. The Strategy, in accordance with the Environmental Policy, coordinates with independent regional agencies responsible for environmental monitoring, protection and regulation within their respective jurisdictions. The Conservation Strategy is a key effort towards the utilization of traditional medicine, improving agricultural productivity and for services contributing to food security.

15.  The Conservation Strategy of Ethiopia (CSE), as well as some other macro and sectoral policies, contains certain policy provisions that are directly or indirectly useful for efforts to combat land degradation. Land degradation is expressly stated in the Environmental Policy of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on page 2 No 14. The Agricultural Development Lead Industrialization (ADLI) places emphasis on sustainable agricultural development, food security and improvements in rural areas.

16.  In July 2002 the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia issued the Sustainable and Poverty Reduction Programme. The programme is meant to: “ Strengthen and expand on-going efforts to address the critical problem of land degradation with its associated problems of deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, loss of soil structure and hydrological disruption, giving priority to highly degraded drought prone, food-insecure areas”; … and “ Strengthen measures under implementation to preserve, develop, manage and sustainably use biodiversity resources”.

17.  Other policies and that are directly or indirectly of relevance here are summarised at Annex C, including the Science and Technology Policy, Energy Policy, Agricultural Policy, Water Policy, Disaster Prevention and Preparedness and Early Warning Policy, and the Health Policy.

Environmental Programmes and Projects

18.  A large number of environmental programmes and projects in Ethiopia have received the support of GEF, World Bank, UNDP, UNEP and other international agencies, and are shown in Annex D.

19.  Land Degradation - Ethiopia published its National Action Programme (NAP) to Combat Desertification in 1998. The NAP includes a Gap Analysis and Proposed Approaches to Combat Desertification, in which three programmes are prioritised:

·  Participatory Development Planning and Programme Implementation

·  Improving Knowledge of Drought and Desertification

·  Action Programme Areas for Managing Natural Resources Leading to Sustainable Development.

Within the NAP capacity building needs for implementing each of these programmes are identified.

20.  Biodiversity - The Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research was initiated to coordinate research and facilitate implementation of the UNCBD, through GEF enabling activity financial support. Over the past three years Ethiopia has been implementing a number of GEF funded enabling activity projects in relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The projects include capacity building needs assessment for the implementation of general measures for in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable use, including national plans, strategies and legislation and conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity important to agriculture. Other projects include:

·  Dynamic Farmer-Based Approach to the Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources of Ethiopia (Completed).