28 June 2023 – The inception phase -closure report of GGGI Ethiopia’s “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forested Landscapes (CSMFL) project in Southwestern Ethiopia” was validated on 28th June 2023 during the workshop organized at Jimma town in the presence of project signatories from the Oromia and Southwest Ethiopia (SWE) regional states, representatives from the Swedish Embassy in Addis Ababa, GGGI Ethiopia and the implementing partners (IPs) named Environment and Coffee Forest Forum (ECFF) and International Development Enterprise (iDE).
The endorsement of the inception phase will enable GGGI Ethiopia and IPs to embark on the full-scale implementation of the project given that the preparatory activities have already been completed. The validation of the inception-phase report came following a heated deliberation on the report presented. As per the given recommendation, GGGI is expected to produce a consolidated baseline data and resubmit the updated project document based on the revised figures.
The CSMFL is a 7.2 million USD, three-year project (December 2022 to November 2025) funded by the Swedish Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Project was officially launched on the 22nd December 2022, and the first six months of the project was decided to be an inception phase to complete prerequisite activities that would pave the way for full implementation of the project.
The project is designed to support new and existing participatory forest management groups and community-based livelihood organizations in Southwestern Ethiopia and improve management and conservation of forested landscapes, biodiversity, climate-smart agricultural practices, and livelihoods. It also aims to build governance and building resilience capacity of target communities.
In his welcoming remarks during the inception phase-closure workshop, Mr. Okechukwu Daniel Ogbonnaya, GGGI Ethiopia Country Representative, said GGGI is very pleased to implement the CSMFL project, which contributes to the sustainable management and conservation of forested landscapes in the southwest Ethiopia. He noted that the underlying objective of the Project is well aligned with GGGI programmatic areas, and green growth agenda of the Government of Ethiopia (GoE).
While lauding the Sweden Embassy in Addis for financing the CSMFL project, Mr. Daniel reaffirmed GGGI’s commitment to ensure the successful implementation of the project in the remainder phase through forging strong collaboration with the implementing partners and key governmental agencies.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Asa Anderson, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa, on her part stated that the Embassy feels privileged to support the CSMFL project, for its ultimate objective is embedded within the forestry sector development agenda of the GoE.
She pointed out that the Participatory Forest Management (PFM) approach employed by the project is expected to ensure conservation of biodiversity in the forested landscape, while at the same time helping ensure the livelihoods of the community in the implementation area.
Ms. Asa described as “commendable” the activities undertaken by GGGI Ethiopia together with its implementing partners in a consortium approach during the inception period of the project.
She further urged the governmental partners at all levels to provide all the necessary supports for the successful implementation of the project and bring about sustainable impacts on the communities at the grassroots level.
Finally, the Deputy Head of Mission praised GGGI for organizing the inception-closure workshop and wished a very good deliberation. The Workshop was wrapped up by defining priorities and next course of actions for the effective execution of the project over the coming three years.
Also, as an integral part of the inception phase closure workshop, a field visit was conducted on 29th June 2023, in Bonga area of the Southwest Ethiopia (SWE) region to experience field observation and hold brief interaction with the project beneficiaries.
Accordingly, the field travel mission including Ms. Asa Andersson and Mr. Daniel Ogbonnaya, and representatives of iDE and ECFF visited the CSMFL Coordination Office at Bonga town of the SWE region. Moreover, the team visited the implementation sites of the Project at Amani & Shocha kebeles (localities), Girbo woreda (district), Kefa zone of the SWE regional state.
The visiting team met local authorities, community members, and discussed development challenges, CSMFL Project’s priorities, and action steps to be taken to implement the project.
Local officials and members of the community on their part have expressed happiness for the project has come to their vicinities, and pledged commitment to provide all the required supports for the successful execution of the project.