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The report analyses the 'memory wars' in Ethiopia, where political elites use 'invented traditions' and memorialisation to advance competing ideological agendas. It identifies three primary approaches to collective memory: the rejectionist approach, which seeks to deconstruct the 'great tradition' of the Ethiopian state; the revivalist approach, which seeks to restore it; and the moderationist approach, which attempts a selective balance. These approaches operate across four layers of tradition: the pre-1991 great tradition, the post-1991 federal vernacular tradition, regional traditions, and local-level traditions. The author argues that the contradictions between these approaches and the lack of a negotiated, shared collective memory have reinforced political instability and armed conflict.

The report identifies municipal solid waste and wastewater as significant contributors to anthropogenic methane emissions, accounting for approximately 12% and 8% respectively. It details how poor waste management leads to health crises, including respiratory diseases from landfill fires and waterborne illnesses from untreated sewage. The document proposes a 'waste hierarchy' approach—prioritizing reduction and reuse—and technical solutions such as anaerobic digestion and landfill gas (LFG) capture. Case studies from Nigeria, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines illustrate the potential for these interventions to reduce premature deaths, create economic value through biogas, and improve sanitation in the Global South.

WRI has supported Ethiopia in implementing a "Safe System" approach to road safety, contributing to the development of the National Road Safety Strategy (2021-2030) and the Non-Motorized Transport Strategy (2020-2029). These initiatives aim to reduce traffic fatalities by 50% by 2030. Early results show a decrease in fatal crashes nationwide from 3,628 (2019-2020) to 3,149 (2021-2022), and a stabilization of road deaths in Addis Ababa.

The Horn of Africa is characterized by a very young population and high fertility rates, particularly in Somalia. Only Djibouti has currently reached the working-age to dependent ratio necessary to potentially realize a demographic dividend. The region is predominantly rural, with Ethiopia being the most rural and Djibouti the most urbanized. High youth populations combined with limited economic opportunities are identified as contributors to socio-political instability.

Ethiopia is not on track to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, with poverty and hunger projected to remain high due to conflict in Tigray, climate change, and economic shocks. The report argues that a sustainable food system transformation is possible with an additional annual public investment of USD 4.6 billion from 2023 to 2030. This funding would target increasing agricultural productivity, transitioning to healthier diets, and enhancing climate resilience. A significant financing gap exists between short-term emergency food assistance and the long-term investments required for systemic resilience. Key recommendations include prioritizing on-farm interventions, scaling up sustainable livestock intensification to reduce GHG emissions, and integrating nutrition education with social protection programs.

This report outlines the objectives of a community of practice on African climate finance, convened by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), to identify adaptation finance priorities for the COP27 conference in Egypt.

The report argues that Ethiopia's national dialogue initiative is hindered by a fundamental clash between a 'deliberative' approach favored by the government—which seeks a rational consensus to resolve differences—and the reality of a severely divided society characterized by deep-seated historical injustices. The author contends that the process will only succeed if stakeholders shift toward an 'agonistic' model that focuses on transforming antagonistic relations into adversarial politics and reckoning with the past, rather than attempting to manufacture a final consensus on fundamental national issues.

The document analyzes Ethiopia's struggle with democratization, tracing a cycle of autocratic rule from the imperial era to the present. It argues that the state's historical hegemony, combined with the organizational weakness of social forces, creates a resilient autocracy. While peaceful protests can trigger short-lived liberalizations, they often fail to consolidate democracy because the state can swiftly recuperate power. Conversely, armed insurgency further deepens authoritarianism by destroying material foundations for democracy and creating militaristic rebel groups that transplant autocratic traditions into the state upon victory. The author recommends using a national dialogue to create incentive structures for elites to commit to democratic reforms.

The report identifies Ethiopia's insurance market as underdeveloped, characterized by low penetration and a dominance of compulsory general insurance. While donor-led pilots in agriculture have introduced index-based products, sustainable industry-led innovation is limited by severe skills shortages, particularly in actuarial science, and an enabling environment hampered by unreliable electricity and restrictive regulations. The document proposes a seven-point action plan for the Insurance Supervisory Directorate (ISD) to improve microinsurance and bancassurance regulations, digitalize supervisory processes, and establish a more independent regulatory authority.

The report assesses Ethiopia's progress toward healthy and sustainable food systems, highlighting a projected decrease in extreme poverty and undernourishment by 2030 alongside a significant increase in livestock-driven GHG emissions. It examines the country's vulnerability to drought, the role of climate-smart agriculture in improving dietary diversity, and the influence of Official Development Assistance (ODA), with the United States as the primary donor. The document also details the development of national dietary guidelines and analyzes household consumption patterns, noting that wealthier households have higher dietary diversity and meat consumption.

The SAVi assessment finds that tree planting in Addis Ababa generates significant societal value by sequestering carbon and avoiding costs associated with air pollution, flooding, and heat. The analysis indicates that trees provide better value for money and more job creation than grey infrastructure alternatives, such as electric vehicles or rainwater harvesting tanks, provided that the nature-based infrastructure is maintained to ensure tree survival.

The study identifies fuel type, kitchen volume, cooking methods, and ventilation as the primary drivers of in-kitchen particulate matter exposure in low-income homes across 12 global cities. The highest concentrations were found in Dhaka, driven by small kitchen size and extensive frying, while the lowest were in Medellín. The research highlights that charcoal use significantly increases PM2.5 levels compared to natural gas or LPG, and that dual ventilation (mechanical and natural) is more effective at reducing pollutants than natural ventilation alone.

The commentary assesses the challenges of the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) partnership, noting that while common interests exist, translating them into impact remains difficult. It calls for a shift from a donor-recipient model to one based on African ownership and private sector engagement. Key areas for cooperation include a just green transition that supports African industrialisation, coordinated health systems for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and technical support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The authors emphasize that the EU must recognize global climate injustice and provide sufficient financing to ensure African economies benefit from the green transition.

The document examines the 'militarisation of politics' in Africa, using the conflict in Ethiopia between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as a primary example. It defines militarisation as the tendency to settle political disputes militarily and notes that this trend is often a legacy of colonial rule. The author highlights a history of military coups and civil wars across the continent, noting that by 2017, Africa had experienced 200 successful and failed coups. While the African Union (AU) has frameworks like the Lomé Declaration and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance to prevent unconstitutional changes of government, the document argues that inconsistent implementation—such as the AU's failure to suspend Chad after the seizure of power by the Transnational Military Council—undermines these efforts. Additionally, the text notes a 17% increase in African military spending over the last decade, totaling $41.2 billion in 2019. In the Horn of Africa, the conflict involving Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan risks regional destabilisation and the undoing of previous peace agreements.

The Ethiopia Electric Utility (EEU) is working to increase women's representation in the electricity sector, targeting 30% female employment by 2023. These efforts include STEM scholarships, internships, the establishment of childcare centers, and the creation of policies to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence. The program is supported by a $4.5 million allocation within the Ethiopia Electrification Program (ELEAP), funded by the World Bank and other grants.

This report by Friends of the Earth International categorizes 233 CBD decisions into five programmatic approaches: Community Forest Management (MCB), Biodiversity, Rights, Financialization (false solutions), and Governance. It provides a detailed analysis of key 'Principles and Declarations' and other relevant decisions to help indigenous peoples and local communities hold governments accountable for their international biodiversity commitments.

The report examines 233 CBD decisions, categorizing them into five priority axes for Friends of the Earth International (ATI): community forest management, biodiversity, rights, 'false solutions' (financialization of nature), and governance. It highlights key 'Principles and Declarations' and other relevant decisions, emphasizing the need to convert international agreements into national policies through National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). The analysis focuses on the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, the ecosystem approach to management, and the critique of market-based conservation mechanisms.

The document examines the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and urban inequality, proposing six priority solutions to build climate-resilient and equitable cities. It highlights how the pandemic exposed systemic vulnerabilities, particularly for the urban poor in informal settlements, and argues that adaptation investments offer high benefit-cost ratios (2:1 to 10:1) and local job creation. Proposed solutions include upgrading poor settlements, building water resilience, advancing nature-based solutions, creating knowledge networks, enhancing devolved funding, and fostering peer-to-peer city collaboration.

The NAP Implementation Roadmap for Ethiopia details a strategic framework to reduce climate vulnerability from 2020 to 2030. It focuses on five implementation components: agriculture and water, natural resource management, health, livelihoods and social protection, climate services and adaptation technologies, and infrastructure. The roadmap identifies 18 adaptation options and five strategic priorities, emphasizing the mainstreaming of climate adaptation into national development plans like the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP). Key goals include achieving food security by 2030 and expanding access to safe water. The document highlights significant capacity gaps at sub-national levels and the need for a resource mobilization strategy to meet an estimated implementation cost of USD 90 billion.

The scoping report identifies a general consensus on the importance of gender-responsive climate action in Ethiopia but highlights significant gaps in institutionalization, accountability, and technical expertise. While the Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) have undergone gender analyses, the report finds that attitudinal barriers and a lack of coordination between gender directorates and climate coordination offices hinder implementation. It specifically notes that sectors like transport and urban planning are overlooked compared to agriculture, and recommends the establishment of a Standing Committee and a Gender Readiness Fund to bridge these gaps.