Ethiopia’s Green Revolution Emerges as Model for Africa: AGRA Country Director

Addis Ababa, August 10, 2026 (ENA) — Ethiopia’s commitment to building a green and climate-resilient economy has emerged as a model for other African countries, according to the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

Speaking exclusively to ENA, AGRA Country Director for Ethiopia Yihenew Zewdie said the country’s green development initiatives have made significant contributions to conserving natural resources, restoring degraded landscapes and mitigating the effects of climate change.

As climate-related challenges, including droughts, floods and pest outbreaks, become increasingly widespread across Africa, building a climate-resilient agricultural economy is no longer an option but a necessity, Yihenew said.

He emphasized the importance of establishing systems that enable farmers to receive timely information about climate-related risks and take appropriate measures to protect their crops and livelihoods.

Ethiopia’s agricultural extension system is playing an important role in this regard by providing farmers with early information on climate-related hazards that could affect agricultural production, he said.

Yihenew also highlighted the Green Legacy Initiative (GLI) as one of the country’s major efforts to strengthen climate resilience and promote a green economy.

On August 3, 2026 alone, Ethiopia planted 805.3 million tree seedlings during the current rainy season, surpassing the daily target of 800 million seedlings under the ongoing Green Legacy campaign.

Over the past seven years, Ethiopia has planted more than 48 billion seedlings nationwide, marking a major milestone in the country’s environmental restoration efforts.

Launched in 2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the GLI has become a flagship environmental program focused on restoring degraded landscapes, expanding forest coverage and strengthening Ethiopia’s response to climate change.

The initiative has also contributed to natural resource conservation, reduced soil erosion, restored degraded environments and supported improvements in agricultural production and productivity, Yihenew said.

He further noted that Ethiopia has emerged as a leading African example in renewable energy development.

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), he said, is a major renewable energy project that has further strengthened Ethiopia’s position in the development of clean energy and attracted international attention beyond the continent.

In addition to hydropower development and the expansion of the GLI, Ethiopia is pursuing the development of wind, geothermal and solar energy as part of its broader efforts to build a green and climate-resilient economy.