Events

Background and Objective

Background and Objective

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Africa Union Commission (AUC), United Nations Commission for Africa (UNECA) and Africa Development Bank (AfDB), with funding from the European Union through the SWITCH Africa Green programme, developed the ‘Guidelines for Accelerating the Circular Economy Transition in Africa’ through a consultative process with African countries, RECs and Civil Society Organisations.

SWITCH Africa Green Programme in Ethiopia organized the national policy dialogue to discuss identified policy interventions that promote nature-based solutions, and Sustainable Consumption and Production practices in Ethiopia. The platform also provided a platform for policy makers and key stakeholders to discuss policy responses required and to be strengthened to build back green, inclusive, and better.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT:

Over the last two decades, Africa experienced an average annual GDP growth of 4.6% and, this growth rate is expected to be sustained until 2022. However, the COVID -19 pandemic has greatly eroded these gains resulting in livelihoods disruption because of food insecurity, lack of medical supplies, loss of income and a looming debt crisis. The unprecedented impacts of the pandemic have inevitably slowed progress towards achieving SDGs in the continent.

In 2011, Ethiopia launched the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy, its blueprint for green development, outlining the vision, strategy, financing and institutional arrangements that it will pursue to become a middle-income country by 2025. The strategy has the triple goals of economic growth, net-zero emissions and climate resilience and is mainstreamed into the country’s development plan and green initiative guidance.