Ethiopia launches “Greening Ethiopia” project to promote sustainable higher education
Date: 2026-02-04
By: Kanto Kai Okanta
The
Greening Ethiopia project has officially been launched at the Capital Hotel and
Spa in Addis Ababa, bringing together 35 participants from Ethiopian
universities, the Ministry of Education, the private sector, the European
Union, and international partners, including Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
of Italy and Maastricht School of Management of the Netherlands.
Funded
under the Erasmus+ framework, the initiative aims to strengthen Ethiopian
higher education institutions as they transition toward a climate-resilient
green economy. Key focus areas include sustainable agriculture, renewable
energy, governance and policy support, curriculum development, applied
research, and community engagement.
Dr.
Mulugeta Watabaji of Haramaya University chaired the launch, while Dr. Jemal
Yousuf, President of Haramaya University, emphasized the importance of
collaboration in aligning the project with Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green
Economy Strategy. Project Director Dr. Ir. Huub L.M. Mudde highlighted the
urgent need to address climate change impacts on food security and the critical
role of universities in driving the green transition.
The
event concluded with a steering committee meeting to set the groundwork for
governance and stakeholder collaboration, marking a significant step toward
sustainable development in Ethiopia’s higher education sector.
