Ethiopia's FMNR (Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration) Movement Catalyst Gathers National Partners to Accelerate Restoration of Degraded Land

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 18 June 2026 – World Vision International Ethiopia (WVIE), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Ethiopian Forestry Development (EFD), will host the 3rd Annual National Forum and Symposium of the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Movement Catalyst on 22–23 June 2026 at the Swiss Inn Nexus Hotel in Addis Ababa.

Held under the theme "Restoring Nature, Restoring Hope for Children," the forum aligns with the Green Legacy Initiative and the country's commitment to restoring degraded and deforested landscapes. The two-day event will bring together national and regional government officials, development partners, embassies, international and local NGOs, research institutions, private-sector representatives, community leaders, and more than 100 member organisations of the FMNR Movement Catalyst Platform.

Land degradation remains one of Ethiopia’s most pressing environmental and development challenges, affecting more than 85 per cent of the country’s land area and undermining livelihoods, food security, water resources, biodiversity, and resilience to climate shocks. In response, FMNR is being scaled as an effective restoration solution that simultaneously improves environmental health, household incomes, and community resilience.

World Vision International Ethiopia has been implementing the FMNR Movement Catalyst, with support from World Vision Australia, in alignment with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The initiative promotes the scaling of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), a proven, low-cost, and community-led approach that restores degraded landscapes by protecting and managing the natural regeneration of trees and shrubs. 

FMNR is already demonstrating significant scale across Ethiopia. The next phase of the movement is focused on accelerating impact through stronger partnerships, increased investment, supportive policies, research, innovation, and wider public engagement.

Since the launch of the FMNR Movement Scale-Up initiative in 2023, significant progress has been achieved. 1.4 million hectares of degraded land have been restored through FMNR and related restoration approaches, representing progress toward the movement's ten-year target of restoring 4.6 million hectares by 2033. Beyond restoring landscapes, the initiative is improving the lives of thousands of Ethiopians. More than 33,000 adults and 44,000 children have directly benefited from restoration and resilience-building interventions that have strengthened food security, improved livelihoods, enhanced environmental sustainability, and created healthier and more resilient communities for children and families. 

"Ethiopia has already shown that FMNR works at scale. The opportunity before us is to accelerate that progress through stronger partnerships and sustained investment," said Karmen Till, National Director of World Vision Ethiopia. "Healthy landscapes are essential for healthy children and thriving communities. When land is restored, families gain greater access to food, water, income, and resilience against climate shocks. Every hectare restored is an investment in children's futures."

The forum will also highlight Ethiopia's growing leadership in climate finance and carbon programming. World Vision-supported restoration initiatives continue to demonstrate how ecosystem restoration can generate both environmental and economic benefits for local communities.

Since the launch of the FMNR Movement Scale-Up initiative in 2023, significant progress has been achieved. To date, 1.4 million hectares of degraded land have been restored through FMNR and complementary restoration approaches, representing progress toward the movement's ten-year target of restoring 4.6 million hectares by 2033. This contributes to the movement's interim goal of reaching 2.5 million hectares by 2028 and supports Ethiopia's national commitment to restore 22 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030.

Beyond restoring landscapes, the initiative is improving the lives of thousands of Ethiopians. More than 33,000 adults and 44,000 children have directly benefited from restoration and resilience-building interventions that have strengthened food security, improved livelihoods, enhanced environmental sustainability, and created healthier, more resilient communities for children and families.

Through strong partnerships among government institutions, local communities, civil society organisations, and development partners, FMNR restoration efforts have expanded across seven regional states, helping communities restore degraded landscapes while strengthening biodiversity, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and community well-being. The two-day forum is expected to reinforce these partnerships, generate renewed commitments, and accelerate practical actions that support Ethiopia’s environmental restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable development goals, while delivering lasting benefits for children, families, and future generations.

=END=

About World Vision:  World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. 

For media inquiries, please contact: Aklilu Kassaye, Manager, Media and Storytelling Email: Aklilu_Kassaye@wvi.org Phone: +251911-38 60 94