WRI Ethiopia

Ethiopia stands at a pivotal moment.

As one of Africa’s greatest inclusive green-growth opportunities, its immense natural wealth can either fuel a new era of shared long-term prosperity or be lost to climate change and natural resource depletion.

Home to about 127 million people, it’s one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa and one of the world’s most resource-rich countries. Twelve major river basins zigzag across its highlands. Forest ecosystems store about 2.5 billion metric tons of carbon and sustain the livelihoods of millions. Fertile land, immense renewable energy potential and a young, growing population position the nation for a prosperous future.

Yet systemic barriers keep prosperity out of reach for most Ethiopians.

At least one-fifth of the population faces food insecurity, with two in five children under the age of 5 affected by stunting. Fifty-six percent of Ethiopians don’t have access to basic electricity service. Rapid, unplanned urbanization, growing at a rate of 5.4% a year, is outpacing infrastructure, expanding informal settlements and leaving people without clean water and other essential services. Women have limited access to economic opportunities.

Ethiopia also grapples with intensifying climate-related disasters. Droughts disrupt harvests and threaten water availability. Agricultural expansion and charcoal production drive deforestation, increasing vulnerability to floods, landslides and land degradation.

There’s a better way. One that turns Ethiopia’s natural abundance into shared prosperity.

Ethiopia is already moving in this direction. The government has committed to ambitious climate and development plans to steer the country toward sustainable, low-carbon growth. The Green Legacy Initiative has mobilized communities to plant more than 32 billion seedlings since 2019. Additionally, the government is committed to restoring 22 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 — about 20% of the country’s land area. Ethiopia has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70.3% by 2035. And it aims to achieve 100% renewable electricity generation by 2030.

All of this can help bring economic opportunities, better living conditions and more financial investment into the country. But fully seizing Ethiopia’s green growth possibilities requires systemic change. WRI Ethiopia’s strategy for 2026–2032 aims to catalyze this by driving transitions in three interconnected human systems: cities; energy; and food, land and water — while strengthening economics, finance and governance.

In cities, we help governments create greener, safer, more livable urban spaces, from parks and affordable housing to low-carbon public transport. We also help communities prepare for extreme heat, flooding and other climate risks.

In energy, we help make clean power accessible and affordable for everyone. We use data, research and partnerships to expand electricity to underserved rural areas and build renewable energy systems that power growth without raising emissions.

In food, land and water, we support smallholder farmers in adopting farming methods that work with nature rather than against it. Alongside partners, we restore degraded watersheds and improve water management to ensure communities have reliable access to clean water. Across all of this, we work to ensure the benefits reach everyone, including women, youth and vulnerable communities.

In climate and enabling systems, we support long-term national plans and policies through data-driven evidence and analysis, while strengthening institutional capacity for better governance.

Changing Ethiopia’s development trajectory won’t be easy. But it is essential — not only for Ethiopians, but for the continent of Africa. Through our seven-year strategy (2026–2032), we help Ethiopia preserve its natural wealth, secure shared prosperity for its people and become a leader in green growth

Download WRI Ethiopia's Five-Year Strategy