In a landmark decision to combat hunger, poverty, and inequality, Ethiopia has officially joined the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, becoming one of the 25 countries within the esteemed Board of Champions at the G20 Summit. This strategic move underscores Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to achieving its ambitious development goals and contributing to global efforts to end hunger and poverty by 2030.
Ethiopia’s Commitment to Global Goals
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s voluntary membership in the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty marks a crucial milestone in the nation’s sustained fight against poverty and food insecurity. The Ethiopian government recognizes the complex and systemic nature of hunger and malnutrition, which are often symptoms of persistent structural poverty and inequality. These are issues Ethiopia has been tackling head-on through its Ten-Year Development Plan, which aligns closely with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
Being a part of the Global Alliance, Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to combating hunger and poverty by utilizing a series of strategic national policies. These policies are integral to Ethiopia’s broader commitment to achieving SDGs 1, 2, and 10, aimed at reducing inequalities. This cooperation brings Ethiopia into direct alignment with a global movement of nations, institutions, and organizations all working toward a shared vision of sustainable, inclusive, and equitable development.
The Global Alliance’s Mission and Ethiopia’s Role
Launched under Brazil’s G20 presidency, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty aims to catalyze global action to eradicate hunger and poverty. At its core, the Alliance promotes effective partnerships, mobilizes financial resources, and supports the implementation of evidence-based programs tailored to national contexts. Its unique approach, the Policy Basket, provides a carefully curated set of high-impact, rigorously evaluated policy instruments aimed at maximizing donor investments and ensuring efficient, large-scale solutions.
Ethiopia has committed to supporting the Alliance’s three key pillars:
- National Pillar: Fostering country-led strategies for hunger and poverty eradication.
- Financial Support Pillar: Mobilizing both domestic and international financial resources.
- Knowledge Pillar: Sharing innovative solutions to improve global food systems and reduce poverty.
By participating in the Board of Champions, Ethiopia gains an influential seat at the table of global decision-making, enhancing its role in pushing for progress on hunger and poverty eradication.
Strategic Alignment with Ethiopia’s National Policies
Ethiopia’s commitment to the Global Alliance aligns seamlessly with its domestic policies, most notably the Agricultural and Rural Development Policy. This policy, which has been foundational in Ethiopia’s ongoing economic transformation, emphasizes food security, rural development, and poverty reduction through targeted investments in agriculture and related sectors.
In addition, the Rural Development Corridor, part of H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s broader vision for Ethiopia, plays a significant role in aligning Ethiopia’s domestic efforts with global goals. The Rural Development Corridor aims to connect rural communities with global value chains, by improving their livelihoods as well as access to both domestic and international markets. By focusing on infrastructure, agro-industrialization, and sustainable agricultural practices, the initiative is poised to foster equitable economic growth across the country. In doing so, it transforms rural Ethiopia into a key hub for development, driving the national development agenda and enhancing livelihoods for millions of Ethiopians.
This integration of global and local strategies is essential for Ethiopia’s continued development. As part of its global commitment, Ethiopia has pledged to implement, improve, and scale up policies from the Global Alliance’s Policy Basket. These policies will be tailored to Ethiopia’s specific challenges and opportunities, ensuring that interventions are both effective and locally appropriate.
Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
Ethiopia’s participation in the Global Alliance also opens doors for increased collaboration with other member countries and global institutions. This cooperative framework facilitates access to critical knowledge, technical expertise, and financial support that will help Ethiopia address its developmental challenges. The country can tap into a global pool of resources to strengthen its agricultural sector, improve productivity, and reduce food insecurity.
Key to this effort will be Ethiopia’s focus on agro-industrialization, a strategy aimed at transforming its agricultural sector by integrating smallholder farmers and pastoralists into the global value chain. This includes improving access to finance, technical services, and agricultural inputs—critical elements in boosting productivity and promoting food systems transformation. As Ethiopia continues its journey toward sustainable development, this collaboration will amplify its ability to scale up innovative solutions in food production, processing, and distribution.
Achievements under Ethiopia’s New Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Initiatives
Ethiopia’s newly adopted Agricultural and Rural Development Policy has already shown promising results in addressing rural poverty and food insecurity, showing a promise of that the Country is on the right track of comprehensive prosperity. The government’s focus on agro-industrialization is yielding tangible progress in building a resilient agricultural sector that can withstand external shocks and address internal challenges such as climate change and market volatility.
Notable achievements have gained Ethiopia international recognition, including: The Green Legacy Initiative – A national reforestation effort that has successfully planted above 40 billion of trees and agro-forestry purposed plants across the country that improves the current forest coverage from 17 % to 23.6%, significantly contributing to climate resilience and environmental sustainability. Irrigated Wheat Production – Ethiopia has developed large-scale irrigation systems, improving wheat production in previously arid regions, ensuring food security, and reducing dependency on imports. Rice Production – The country has made substantial strides in increasing domestic rice production, reducing reliance on external markets and enhancing food security. Lemat Tirufat [Bounty of Food Basket] Initiative – A farming system initiatives that focuses on improving productivity of livestock commodities through agricultural reforms and increasing market access for smallholder farmers and pastoralist in the country.
These achievements are evidence of Ethiopia’s practical approach to sustainable agricultural development and reflect the success of its Agricultural and Rural Development Policies in improving the livelihoods of rural populations.
By investing in rural infrastructure, increasing access to markets, and strengthening the value chains of key agricultural products, Ethiopia has created the foundation for long-term growth in the agricultural sector. Moreover, the policy’s emphasis on social protection has led to the expansion of safety nets, improving the resilience of vulnerable populations against economic and environmental shocks.
A collective effort towards a hunger-free future
Ethiopia’s strategic inclusion in the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty highlights the country’s growing influence on the global development stage. By becoming an active participant in this transformative global initiative, Ethiopia now has an even stronger platform to advocate for inclusive and sustainable agricultural practices, food security, and rural development, both within Africa and beyond.
Through collaboration with other Alliance members, Ethiopia is poised to drive innovation, improve the effectiveness of its national policies, and unlock new opportunities for global value chain integration. Ethiopia’s active participation in the Board of Champions also empowers it to influence policy changes globally, ensuring that the voices of developing nations are heard in the pursuit of global food systems transformation.
Ethiopia’s membership in the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty represents a decisive step toward achieving its long-term development goals. Through this partnership, Ethiopia gains access to critical resources, expertise, and global networks that will accelerate its efforts to eliminate hunger and poverty. By aligning its domestic policies with international frameworks, Ethiopia strengthens its role in the collective fight for a sustainable and equitable world.
As Ethiopia continues its national development agenda, it will walk alongside a global community united in the mission of achieving a hunger-free, poverty-free, and more equitable future for all. The country’s participation in the Global Alliance, alongside its comprehensive agricultural and rural development strategies, promises a brighter future for its citizens and a significant contribution to the global development agenda.
Efa Muleta (PhD) is State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. He can be reached at: efamuleta978@gmail.com
BY EFA MULETA (PhD)
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2025
