Ireland Pledges Stronger Partnership with Ethiopia, Prioritizes Climate Action: Irish Ambassador

Addis Ababa, May 1, 2026 — Ireland has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia, placing climate action at the center of its development support,” the Irish Ambassador stated.

Olivia Leslie, the Irish Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, told ENA that Ireland has maintained a long-standing partnership with the Ethiopian government through programs focused on social protection and advancing the rights of women and girls.

“We have worked for years in close partnership with Ethiopia, particularly in supporting vulnerable communities and promoting gender equality,” she said.

She further explained that Ireland is expanding its climate-focused interventions across multiple regions of the country, including northern Ethiopia, with plans to extend activities to Somali and Afar regions, alongside ongoing work in Tigray on climate-smart agriculture.

The ambassador also emphasized that gender considerations remain central to all climate initiatives.

“We are ensuring that the needs of women and girls are reflected in the design of climate programs, whether implemented by government institutions, local organizations, or regional partners,” she stated.

Leslie further added that Ireland collaborates with a wide range of partners, including the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry and the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute, as well as regional agricultural bureaus in Somali and Afar.

Highlighting Ethiopia’s achievements, the ambassador praised the country’s leadership in climate action and renewable energy.

“Ethiopia is showing really strong leadership in climate action. There is significant potential, particularly in renewable energy, and the government is actively working to harness it,” she said.

She noted that Ethiopia has the capacity to translate its climate ambitions into concrete results, with the support of Ireland, the European Union, and other international partners.

Looking ahead, Leslie said Ethiopia’s hosting of COP 32 next year will provide an important platform to advance both continental and global climate agendas.

African countries must play a central role in climate negotiations, she stressed, adding, “Africa’s voice needs to be at the center of the COP process, given the continent’s vulnerability to climate change.”

The ambassador also highlighted climate finance as a key issue, noting that funding must come from diverse sources, including governments and the private sector.

She added that development partners should work to remove barriers that limit access to climate finance while supporting both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Reaffirming Ireland’s broader engagement, Leslie said the country will continue strengthening diplomatic, development, and economic ties with Ethiopia.

“Ethiopia is a very important partner for Ireland, the European Union, and the wider international community. We want to deepen our cooperation, support the multilateral system, and build strong people-to-people connections,” she said.