Ethiopia is ramping up efforts to secure climate finance and advance green development as global partners unveil a new resilience investment program at the opening of the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Global Knowledge Exchange, which runs from April 27 to 30, 2026 in Addis Ababa.
Opening the event, Ahmed Shide, minister of Finance, said climate action is central to the country’s development agenda. He described the forum as a key platform for South-South learning, while stressing that current financing falls far short of what is needed. Priority areas include climate-resilient agriculture, water security, renewable energy, sustainable land management, and resilient urban systems.
The opening also marked the launch of the Climate Investment Funds’ (CIF) Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies (ARISE) program. The initiative will provide up to USD 40 million per country or 50 million for regional programs, with applications open until June 8, 2026.
According to Tariye Gbadegesin, CEO of the Climate Investment Funds, ARISE aims to mobilize public and private finance and embed resilience into national development strategies. Since 2008, CIF has invested over one billion dollars in resilience programs across more than 30 countries.
From The Reporter Magazine
Gbadegesin warned that climate shocks are threatening billions of livelihoods and emphasized the need to scale up investment to protect economies and communities.
Alex Mubiru, director-general for East Africa at the African Development Bank Group, noted that Africa remains the most vulnerable yet underfunded region. He highlighted over USD 1.1 billion in CIF-backed projects across 28 African countries, leveraging around USD 10 billion in co-financing, and pointed to Ethiopia’s hosting of COP32 in 2027 as a key moment for the continent.
Dawit Alemu, project manager at the Ministry of Industry, told The Reporter that climate investments are already yielding results.
From The Reporter Magazine
He noted that combined CIF and multilateral development bank investments have provided USD 32 million for “Nature and People” programs, with a strong multiplier effect generating USD 12 for every dollar invested.
Ethiopia is also among the top candidate countries competing for a USD 250 million CIF funding window, with only a few countries remaining in the final selection stage.
He said industrial decarbonization is advancing, with factories shifting from diesel and coal to electric systems, supported by Ethiopia’s renewable energy capacity. Circular economy efforts are also expanding, with up to 20 percent of steel inputs sourced from recycled scrap and around 30 percent of plastic waste reused.
On e-mobility, he noted that over 111,000 electric vehicles are now in use, mainly in Addis Ababa, with more than ten assembly plants operating across industrial hubs such as Debre Berhan, Dukem, and Bole Lemi. Green logistics are also improving, with the Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway serving as a carbon-free transport corridor.
As Ethiopia prepares to host COP32, officials say scaling up finance and private sector engagement will be key to turning commitments into impact.
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