In 2018, UN-REDD helped strengthen the capacities of national and regional authorities to support the implementation of the Warsaw Framework elements, promote understanding of the multiple values of forests, drive and coordinate the development of the various REDD+ components, and design a model for decentralized REDD+ under the Warsaw Framework.
UN-REDD supported the development of a capacity-building framework focused on government forest agencies and academia, including training on REDD+ implementation and REDD+ finance for the practitioners in the sector.
UN-REDD support also provided input for a concept note on a multi-sector programme to support the National Forest Sector Development Programme (NFSDP), which was integrated into a proposal developed by the Government. Furthermore, a coordination framework was developed under the NFSDP to enhance institutional coordination and partnership arrangements.
UN-REDD helped the Government promote strategic partnerships and coordination platforms for NFSDP implementation, as well as related PAMs, through the integration of REDD+ into the multi-sectoral investment plans. The report Scoping private sector opportunities in Ethiopia: How to stimulate both economic development and REDD+ implementation? illustrates the work undertaken on engaging the private sector in investments that support forest and climate change objectives.
Changes to government structure in 2018 resulted in the abolishment of the Ministry of Environment as the entity responsible for climate policies and the establishment of the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission. As a result, the UN-REDD team devoted time to establishing a working relationship with the new commission.
There was close cooperation throughout 2018 with the World Bank on the design of the multi-sector programme and how it could coordinate with the World Bank’s existing investment programmes, including the Oromia Forested Landscape Program. Discussions were also held with the European Commission and the Global Green Growth Institute, among others.