Japan is investing $7.2 million (JPY 1 billion) in a new four-year initiative to bolster climate-resilient agriculture and aid conflict-affected communities in northern Ethiopia, a joint effort by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Japanese government, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The project, implemented by FAO in collaboration with Ethiopia's Ministry of Agriculture across Amhara, Tigray, and Afar regions, aims to revitalize agricultural livelihoods, improve food security, and enhance climate resilience using the Farmers Field School (FFS) approach. This will involve training farmers and extension workers in sustainable agricultural practices, establishing community-based seed multiplication groups, improving postharvest management, and rehabilitating irrigation systems.
The initiative is expected to directly benefit over 27,000 smallholder farmers and indirectly reach an additional 242,000 individuals through knowledge sharing and capacity building.
Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Girma Amente, expressed gratitude for the support, aligning the project with the government's priorities. Japanese Ambassador Hironori Shibata highlighted the project's alignment with Japan's three major pillars of assistance to Ethiopia's agricultural sector: investment in people, small-scale farmer self-reliance and market-oriented agriculture, and rice production. FAO Representative Farayi Zimudzi also expressed appreciation for Japan's continued support in various agricultural interventions. JICA Chief Representative Kensuke Oshima emphasized the project's potential to enhance the FFS approach nationwide.
This FAO-Japan/JICA partnership marks a significant step in Ethiopia's climate adaptation efforts, enabling conflict-affected communities to rebuild their livelihoods and contribute to a more resilient food system.