30 August 2013: The World Bank and the Government of Norway have partnered to increase funding to tackle land degradation, deforestation and climate change in Ethiopia. Norway has granted US$50 million to co-finance the Sustainable Land Management Program (SLMP II), which is designed to reduce land degradation and increase land productivity of smallholder farmers.

In addition, Norway will contribute another US$13 million through the World Bank’s BioCarbon Fund (BioCF) to support Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Facility and to promote climate-smart agriculture and forest conservation and land rehabilitation at the landscape level. The BioCF expects to enable Ethiopia to accomplish ongoing REDD+ activities, while developing a REDD+ pilot program at a regional state level. Norway’s funding complements ongoing support of the United Kingdom and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF). [World Bank Press Release] [Bio Carbon Fund]