This document is the fourth volume of the national policy on natural resources and the environment. Volume 1 examined the underlying state of the country’s natural resources, volume II presented a policy and strategic framework for the sustainable use of the resources, while III dealt with questions arising with regards to institutions and implementation plans for the strategies. This volume IV highlights plans and actions across a framework of cross-sectoral and sectoral programmes to translate the strategies in volume II into actionable activities.

This highlights the holistic plans of the transitional government for Ethiopia. The general policy pointers include the democratization and decentralization of the health service system; the development of the preventive and promotive components of health care; development of an equitable and acceptable standard of the health service system that will reach all segments of the population within the limits of recourses; promoting and strengthening of intersectoral activities; the provision of health care for the population on a scheme of payment according to ability with special assistance mechanisms for those who cannot afford to pay; and promoting the participation of the private sector and non-governmental organizations in health care.

The Agriculture and Natural Resources Sector Growth and Transformation Plan II (ANR-GTP II) follows from the First Growth and Transformation Plan and leverages on the lessons drawn from its implementation. The ANR GTP II represents the agriculture and natural resources national visions, goals, and strategies aimed at contributing towards the national target of achieving a Middle-Income economy.

This report explicitly explains Ethiopia’s drive towards achieving the MDGs. It shows the progress made so far, with the policies, strategies, and programs explored to attain current progress. It also describes the challenges encountered in the course of the journey as well as hopes and prospects for the future.

The strategy contains the visions, systemic bottlenecks, and priority interventions for the agricultural extension system in Ethiopia. The novel strategy on agricultural extension is based on the push to drive agricultural productivity and improve food security and nutrition through the development of innovative and farmer-owned extension services. The objective of the extension system is to “transform Ethiopia’s agriculture through implementation of pluralistic extension system and by providing demand-driven and market-led extension services to male, female and youth farmers, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists”.

The strategy and action plan state that Ethiopia’s population of world rarest animals is gradually on the decline due to overuse and loss of natural habitats, due to the ever-growing human population. Deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and desertification thus threaten the biodiversity and natural resources base of the country. The strategy and action plan address interrelated issues ranging from biodiversity protection and management for food security to improving the livelihood of the populace, especially the rural population.

A proclamation to amend the authentication and registration of documents proclamation of 2003, as a matter of necessity.

A Proclamation to provide for the utilization of urban land. It defines Urban land as all land within the boundaries of a town. The Proclamation shall not apply to land previously utilized for the construction of dwellings. It contains provisions for applications for persons who desire to hold urban lands in the lease, duration of leases, transfer of mortgages, and termination of lease agreements, among others.

“The objective of this Proclamation is to protect human and animal health, biological diversity and in general, the environment, local communities and the country at large by preventing or at least managing down to levels of insignificance the adverse effects of modified organisms”. The Proclamation provides rules for the handling and use of Genetically Modified Organisms for the general protection of the environment.

The Proclamation provides for the ratification of the International Convention in the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling, adopted by the International Maritime Organization. It authorizes the Ministry of Transport and Communications to undertake in cooperation with the concerned governmental organs all acts necessary for the implementation of the Convention.

A proclamation to amend the property mortgaged or pledged with banks proclamation of 1998.

The national biodiversity strategy and action plan represent Ethiopia’s 5-year plan to attain the targets for the biodiversity sector. It was prepared to guide national efforts in the conservation, sustainable utilization and equitable benefit sharing in the country. It provides important information on the biodiversity resource base, its values, and ecosystem services. The action plan is the response to the environmental challenges being faced in the country as a result of natural and artificial conditions and activities. The action plan is a multi-sectoral one and seeks to ensure the sustainability and conservation of Ethiopia’s ecosystem and biodiversity as a tool for improved food security, poverty eradication, and the general living condition of the populace.

The strategy recognises that along with other effective agronomic activities, farm management strategies, and national policies and interventions, the seed sector is capable of immensely contributing to increased crop production. The strategy seeks to make available seeds of improved varieties to men, women, and youths engaged in crop production, with ease in availability, accessibility, timeliness, price, as well as quantity and quality. The strategy has several underlying factors, ranging from effective development, release, and registration of high-quality seeds to maximising the potential of the informal sector.

The national adaptation plan seeks to increase the country’s resilience to climate change through building adaptive capacities. The adaptation plan focuses on sectors identified as most vulnerable; agriculture, forestry, health, transport, power, industry, water, and urban. Subsequently, 18 adaptation options and 5 strategic priorities were identified to address the vulnerabilities.

“The Water Sector Development Program (WSDP) has been prepared by the Ministry of Water Resources. The WSDP seeks to contribute to major socio-economic targets such as enhancing the access of the population to safe drinking water, improving food security through extending irrigation, and increasing the national production of electricity by constructing dams. The program is consistent with the National Water Management Policy and the National Water Strategy. The planning horizon of the WSDP is 15 years, divided into three 5-year periods of the short-term (2002-2006), medium-term (2007-2011), and long-term (2012-2016) to suit the existing practice of 5-year development plans of Regional and Federal institutions”.

The policy aims to complement current labour laws provisions and international ramifications in coordinating and harmonising all employment generation activities and efforts.

This policy on transport in Addis Ababa addresses the current challenges faced in the transport sector, proffers likely solutions, and envisions future issues that may arise. This is to ensure the smooth running of socio-economic activities that contribute to the attainment of the country’s overall long-term vision.

“The Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) is a nationwide sectoral document charged at laying out the adaptation initiatives, addressing both climate change adaptation and mitigation objectives that Ethiopia intends to undertake to limit its net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. The INDC is in line with the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE), integrated into the Second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II)”.

The Food Security Strategy (FSS) builds on the 1996 FSS that sought to understand the causes and effects of food insecurity in Ethiopia. The 2002 FSS subsequently aims to leverage the lessons learnt over the years to further address food insecurity issues. The overall objective is to ensure food security at household levels. It places priority on pastoral areas, environmental rehabilitation, the introduction of high-value crops, capacity building, and institutional strengthening.

The strategy is designed to be a 5-year strategic plan. It pushes to bridge the gap of the current insensitive nature of the country’s agricultural sector, and its impact on the nutritional status of the populace; It goes ahead to highlight the specific gaps identified to be addressed. It hopes to achieve its set objectives by integrating nutrition into the policies, strategies and programmes of the 3 ministries in the agricultural sector; providing guidance, and coordinating activities charged at attaining set goals. Its key principles include: Community participation and ownership, special consideration to women, youth and children, need and evidence-based program planning and implementation, and innovative and indigenous knowledge-based.