The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of Planning and Development of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will co-host a four-day seminar dedicated to exploring strategies and opportunities to achieve critical environmental and sustainable development objectives.
Representatives from 14 countries across Eastern Africa will convene to exchange experiences and strengthen regional cooperation in support of conserving vital ecosystems and biodiversity, restoring degraded landscapes, addressing water scarcity and drought, promoting greener and more resilient cities and food systems, and tackling chemical and waste pollution, including plastics.
In his opening remarks, Seyoum Mekonen, State Minister at the Ministry of Planning and Development, emphasised the urgent need for enhanced collaboration among Eastern African countries in response to accelerating environmental degradation and the impacts of climate change. He noted that stronger regional cooperation would significantly improve the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of programmes funded by the GEF, while advancing broader sustainable development goals across the region.
“The GEF-9 replenishment negotiations present an important opportunity for the region to bring critical priorities to the attention of GEF leadership and to further strengthen collaboration,” said Mekonen, who also serves as GEF Political Focal Point for Ethiopia.
The Eastern Africa Expanded Constituency Workshop brings together government officials, representatives of multilateral environmental agreements, GEF implementing agencies, and civil society organisations. Participating countries include Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Over the past 35 years, the GEF has provided $148 million in grant financing to Ethiopia across 32 projects, leveraging an additional $970 million in co-financing from other sources. Currently, Ethiopia is implementing 22 active projects, representing $136 million in GEF investment and $923 million in co-financing. Across the 14 Eastern African countries, there are 194 active projects, with total GEF funding of $1.1 billion and $6.3 billion in co-financing.
“The Expanded Constituency Workshop represents a critical opportunity for open dialogue, shared learning, and collective action as we move from the GEF-8 investment cycle toward the launch of GEF-9 in July,” said Yawo Jonky Tenou, Senior Environmental Specialist and GEF Coordinator for Africa. “By coming together at this pivotal moment, we can reflect on progress achieved, shape future priorities, and ensure that GEF investments continue to deliver lasting benefits for our countries and for the planet.”
As part of the workshop, participants will visit selected project sites in the Gullele and Yeka sub-cities of the Addis Ababa City Administration, as well as the Ethiopia “Corridor Development” initiative.
These sites provide practical and visible examples of how GEF-supported interventions are strengthening adaptive capacity at community level in urban areas. The projects demonstrate scalable approaches that integrate livelihood support, ecosystem-based adaptation, and social inclusion within an urban context.
The field visits will offer valuable learning opportunities for participating Eastern African countries, showcasing replicable models for building urban climate resilience through community-driven and ecosystem-based solutions.
