Climate risks in food for peace geographies: Ethiopia

This profile provides an overview of climate risks to key sectors that impact food security in Ethiopia: agriculture (including crop production, livestock, invasive species, pesticide use and storage, and food processing and storage); human health (including nutrition; water, sanitation and hygiene or WASH; and health services); and sensitive ecosystems and ecosystem services. The document describes historical trends and projected near-term changes in climate, livelihood zones in FFP geographies, and climate risks to the key food security-related sectors within the FFP geographies.

The paper finds that chronic food insecurity affects 10 percent of Ethiopia’s population, with rates typically rising higher during drought years. Multiple factors drive food insecurity in Ethiopia, including conflict of natural resources, poverty, high food prices, lack of access to basic services and sanitation, rapid population growth, and a lack of employment opportunities. In particular, in 2018, conflict caused extensive displacement which has disrupted livelihoods and created food security challenges. Additionally pastoralism and crop production—99 percent of which is rainfed—are hindered by desertification and drought. Projected changes in climate—including more frequent and intense drought, more frequent and intense floods and rain-driven landslides, rising temperatures, and accelerated desertification—are expected to further exacerbat food insecurity.