Environment and Climate Research Center -ECRC

eering Committee (SC) composed of the Executive Director of EDRI, the Director of EfD and the Knowledge Services Director of GGGI overlooks the center. The center will also be supported by a National Advisory Committee (NAC) with representatives from key government and non- government stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of the CRGE strategy. Implementation

ECRC builds up on EDRI’s long-standing collaborative project with the Environment for Development Initiative (EfD), the Environmental Economics Policy Forum for Ethiopia (EEPFE). Over the past decade, EEPFE has produced high quality research output on a range of topics related to the environment and development, and actively participated in policy processes (including the development of the CRGE strategy). A key success of EEPFE has been its ability to create a network of domestic and international researchers actively engaged in tackling some of the core issues related to the CRGE. The plan has been to transform EEPFE into a full-blown center capable of standing up to the challenge of realizing a sustainable and locally owned knowledge backstop for Ethiopia’s CRGE ambition. ECRC’s functions will be delivered as four main programs: Policy Research and Impact Evaluation (PRIE) program, Policy Interaction and Communication (PIC) program, Data Management and Knowledge Repository (DMR) program and Capacity Building (CP) program; each overlooked by a Program Leader. The center’s PRIE program will initially focus on energy, forestry, water, agriculture, industry and urbanization. Launch of the center's core programs will be preceded by a comprehensive program planning process over the course of 2015 that actively involves all stakeholders. Rationale for establishment

Ethiopia has outlined a strategy for a Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE). The overall vision of the CRGE strategy is to sustain fast economic growth while increasing resilience and keeping emissions low. The strategy is an important step in framing the direction of Ethiopia’s development and can potentially make Ethiopia a leader in green growth. The implementation of the CRGE strategy needs to be supported by a policy-oriented research and knowledge management process. This necessitates a sustained and dynamic partnership between the domestic and international research community, as well as government and non-government stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of the CRGE. As the public institution mandated with supporting Ethiopia’s development policies and strategies with research, EDRI is now stepping up its efforts to develop an institutionalized and sustainable mechanism that responds to the knowledge demands of Ethiopia’s pursuit to move toward a green middle-income economy within a decade. Hence the establishment of ECRC in partnership with EfD and GGGI. Core functions

Research:
Undertake high-quality and policy-relevant research on the economics of climate change, environment, energy, natural resource management and sustainable development in general in the context of Ethiopia; and undertake real-time impact evaluation of the CRGE implementation. Policy support and interaction forum:
Provide policy makers with evidence-based and timely policy advice and analysis on issues related to climate change and environment; serve as a forum for the interaction of researchers, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders. Repository of data and knowledge:
Gather and compile important data and research output related to climate and environment in Ethiopia; and develop a mechanism so that the public and other stakeholders can access the repository. Capacity building:
Actively participate in developing the analytical capacity of governmental and non-governmental stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of climate-related policies and projects; form strategic partnerships with academic institutions to improve domestic analytical capacity on climate change and related issues.