Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 4, 2025 – In a significant step towards strengthening Ethiopia’s climate action capabilities, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Ethiopia, in partnership with Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning and Development, successfully delivered a comprehensive three-day training program on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The intensive workshop, held in Bishoftu from April 1 to 3, 2025, focused on equipping Ethiopian government officials and climate experts with the crucial knowledge and technical skills necessary to navigate the complexities of carbon trading mechanisms and market-based approaches.

The training specifically addressed key aspects of Article 6, including cooperative approaches, internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs), and carbon pricing strategies. Participants, comprising officials directly involved in climate mitigation policy, are expected to play pivotal roles in the governance of emerging carbon markets.

H.E. Mr. Seyoum Mekonnen, State Minister for the Ministry of Planning and Development

H.E. Seyoum Mekonnen, State Minister for the Ministry of Planning and Development, in his opening speech stated, “We recognize that the carbon market is essential and supports our national development and climate goals.” He also emphasized the government’s commitment to facilitating stakeholder involvement and highlighted the importance of building expert capacity in the rapidly evolving climate market landscape.

GGGIs’ Carbon Pricing Officer, Wesley Ramnauth leads the training

The workshop, led by GGGI’s Carbon Pricing Officer, Mr. Wesley Ramnauth, Regional Lead for Climate Instruments and Institutional Strengthening, Mr. Gebru Jember, and GGGI Ethiopia’s Climate Finance Lead, Mr. Zerihun Getu, aimed to provide a thorough understanding of Article 6 concepts, including the project cycle, governance frameworks, and international trends. Crucially, the program facilitated knowledge exchange through case studies presented by government representatives from Uganda, Senegal, Zambia, and Cambodia, showcasing diverse experiences in Article 6 readiness.

H.E. Mr. Daniel Ogbonnaya, GGGI Ethiopia Country Representative, during his welcoming address, expressed, “We are excited that the government is pushing to facilitate the process and is ready to learn more in order to use the opportunity carbon trading provides.” He also underlined that Ethiopia’s participation in carbon markets can contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr. Okechukwu Daniel Ogbonnaya, Country Representative of GGGI Ethiopia

Objectives of the training were successfully met, providing participants with a comprehensive grasp of Article 6 concepts and the government’s role in managing voluntary cooperation. It also offered valuable insights into other host countries’ experiences and enabled participants to reflect on potential mitigation activities suitable for trading, aligning with Ethiopia’s climate and development ambitions.

The initiative, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) as part of the “Enhancing Ethiopia’s Access to Climate Finance” project, is designed to empower Ethiopia to effectively mobilize and manage increasing levels of international climate finance, thereby contributing to the nation’s climate-resilient and low-emission economic development goals.

A key outcome of the training is expected to be the development of an Article 6 policy implementation roadmap, along with necessary adjustments to Ethiopia’s legislative framework to facilitate participation in Article 6 and other carbon markets. GGGI has pledged its ongoing support to these critical initiatives. Furthermore, the training is also timely as it supports the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee, currently being structured to oversee carbon policy, with prospective members participating in the training.