The Government of Ethiopia is developing a program to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) in the Oromia regional state. This sub-national jurisdictional program, supported by the World Bank, will introduce a suite of activities with the aim of transforming the forest landscape to a more productive ecosystem that sequesters carbon and safeguards forest benefits for the rural population of Ethiopia. UNIQUE was contracted to support the design of this program, to carry out a study on the causes of deforestation and forest degradation in Oromia and to develop corresponding strategy options to reduce deforestation. Building on more than a decade of forest and land management experience in Ethiopia, UNIQUE’s contribution lays the groundwork for this pioneer REDD+ jurisdictional program.

• Comprehensive analysis of drivers, agents and underlying causes of deforestation.
• Spatial analysis of Oromia to stratify the region into priority landscapes for intervention.
• Detailed analysis of drivers and strategy options, including cost assessment, in priority areas.
• Capacity building for national counterparts to ensure program viability and sustainability.
• Beyond forest sector, assessment of key commodities causing deforestation using value chain approach.