Situational Analysis and Needs Assessment: CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH IN ETHIOPIA Establishing a GEOHealth Hub for East Africa School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & University of Southern California, USA

Acknowledgements Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, Public Health Emergency Management of MOH, Federal Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Disaster Risk Management and Food Security System (DRMFSS), and National Meteorological Agency (NMA)

Introduction Climate change is of critical strategic importance to Ethiopia To increase between 0.7°C and 2.3°C by the 2020’s and of between 1.4°C and 2.9°C by the 2050s. Precipitation variability: less confident than temperature changes because of regional processes. Shifts in seasons of highest interest, yet uncertainty is the highest hold back economic progress made in Ethiopia’s development and could exacerbate social and economic problems GDP rises or falls about a year behind changes in average rainfall.

Objective assess the country’s existing situation in issues related to the environment, climate change, and occupational health, and to identify gaps and needs for research, training, and capacity building projects. Methods review of available secondary data and interviewing key informants

Situational analysis The state of climate in Ethiopia high inter-annual rainfall variability non-uniform and varies by the region or period of time used for analysis Changes in the frequency of extreme events frequency and magnitude of droughts has increased over the past few decades Flooding is the second most important natural disaster and its increasing occurrence is adding more stress

Impacts of Climate Change Agriculture Water Energy Industry Transport Climate change-related health problems

climate-sensitive diseases Vector-borne diseases: malaria, trypanosomiasis, onchocerciasis, Leshmaniasis Soil-transmitted Helminthiases (STHs) Water-borne diseases: schistosomiasis, diarrhoeal disease Zoonotic diseases Air Pollution Nutrition and related impact

Policy, Adaptation and Response to Climate Change National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) The Climate-Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) Ethiopia’s Programme of Adaptation to Climate Change (EPACC)

Ethiopia has launched its Climate-Resilient Green Economy initiative (CRGE) with 2 main objectives Development initiatives Resilient economy Build the capacity of the economy to cope with the adverse consequences of climate change Green growth path Reach middle income threshold by 2025 and keep growth carbon neutral Green economy Resilient economy CRGE Abatement/ avoidance initiatives Resilience initiatives

Gap analysis Organizational gaps Lack of well-organized structure in the regional and Federal EPAs Lack of inter-sectoral collaboration no strong specific units in each institution that can lead and organize the climate change related activities Poor coordination and communication among different stakeholders Limited involvement of private sector and CBOs

Training gaps Research gaps inadequately trained in the specific relevant techniques in the areas of climate change and health Lack of training on special skill development lack proper awareness and knowledge Research gaps inadequate research on climate change related health outcomes Lack of research capacity among experts and equipment limitation Lack of baseline information Lack of laboratories Shortage of funds Lack of specific training

Institutional capacity Lack of technologies that fit the local setting and shortage of capital to adopt the new technology Lack of trained personnel and experts on climate change and health Very long and inefficient procurement system Financial capacity financial capital Policy gaps Policies and proclamations on climate change and health Climate change has not been recognized as a public health threat in the 1994 health policy of the country. Monitoring and Evaluation

Priority needs for intervention Increasing community awareness and knowledge Trained personnel on climate change and health Strengthen research capacity Establishing climate change & health research centers. Build national & international research collaborations Updating existing and developing new policies and strategies in line with current international and national standards. Mainstream climate change and health at different organizations and academic/research institutes

Conclusion Additional and well-targeted efforts need to be in place to halt the current weak multidimensional climate change induced problems through organized community, professional, and organizational collaboration and networking. Capacity building Research Community outreach