March 30, 2026, Ministry of Planning and Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The FOLUR (Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration) Ethiopia Project, implemented under the Ministry of Planning and Development of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, has conducted a workshop to officially recognize and award research sponsorships to 15 PhD candidates.
The FOLUR Ethiopia Project is a strategic investment aimed at strengthening Ethiopia’s research capacity while addressing key national priorities, including preventing forest degradation, restoring degraded lands, promoting sustainable coffee production and value chains, and enhancing food security.
During the event, 15 qualified PhD candidates from nine Ethiopian universities received official recognition and research sponsorship. The scholars are expected to undertake policy-oriented research focusing on sustainable coffee development, integrated land-use management, forest conservation, and food systems transformation, generating evidence that will support national policymaking.
The selected candidates successfully passed a rigorous evaluation process conducted by independent experts. Their research proposals were assessed based on scientific merit and alignment with the project’s priority thematic areas.
The workshop was attended by senior government officials, regional representatives, representatives from UNDP, university leaders, and other stakeholders. Participants emphasized that the project will play a significant role in strengthening Ethiopia’s national research capacity.
The award ceremony marks a major milestone in the FOLUR Ethiopia Project’s research and knowledge development agenda. The findings generated by the PhD scholars are expected to contribute directly to evidence-based policymaking and support the modernization of Ethiopia’s natural resource management systems.
During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed among the Ministry of Planning and Development, participating universities, and the PhD candidates. It was also announced that additional rounds of research sponsorship opportunities will be created for more university scholars in the future, further contributing to Ethiopia’s sustainable development goals.