SWITCH Africa Green launched in Ethiopia

SWITCH Africa Green which supports countries in Africa to achieve sustainable development by engaging in transition towards an inclusive green economy which has the potential to generate growth, create jobs and reduce poverty was launched in Ethiopia.

Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Steven Were Omamo, World Food Programme Director in Ethiopia, and Acting UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, said, ““I believe Switch Africa Green project in Ethiopia will support the implementation of its Growth and Transformation Plan as well as the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Strategy which contains Ethiopia’s vision and strategy to achieve a middle-income country status by 2025 while developing a green economy.”

“Switch Africa Green is a success model of One UN Initiative. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) worked closely in each country to support private sector development in particular green business development,” Mr. Omamo added.

Prof. Fekadu Beyene, Ethiopia's Commissioner for Environment, Forestry and Climate Change in Ethiopia also said that the full implementation of the SWITCH Africa Green Programme in Ethiopia would support the uptake of innovative green business and sustainable consumption and production practices across three national priority sectors, namely agriculture, manufacturing and integrated waste management.

“The launching of SWITCH Africa Green Programme in Ethiopia comes at a time the country is undertaking a critical journey of all rounded and deep reforms that geared towards addressing various socio-economic problems, including the creation of decent jobs for millions of youth and ensuring environmental sustainability,” said Prof. Fekadu.