FAO’s Subregional Coordinator for East Africa, Farayi Zimudzi, stated during the 19th meeting of the specialized agency’s Multidisciplinary Team that large-scale forest restoration programs in Addis Ababa are beginning to meet global monitoring and verification standards.

Zimudzi explained that they are working closely with the local Ministry of Forestry Development to strengthen monitoring, reporting, and verification systems, an essential requirement for countries seeking to monetize their investments in forest conservation and reforestation.

“We are supporting Ethiopia so that it can access carbon finance. Once this is achieved, the financing will be used by communities and different stakeholders in the sector,” she revealed.

She emphasized that the potential benefits extend beyond income, noting that women, children, and young people—who are among the most vulnerable to climate change—will directly benefit from improved access to resources.

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