Project Information
Accelerating the Transition to Climate-Smart Agriculture in Ethiopia
The Accelerate the Transition to Climate-Smart Agriculture Project is a collaborative initiative between Thur Biotech Manufacturing Plc and Emmanuel Development Association (EDA), funded by the World Resources Institute (WRI). The project seeks to improve soil health, agricultural productivity, and smallholder farmer incomes by expanding access to bio-based, low-emission agricultural inputs, particularly high-quality biofertilizers. It adopts a public–private partnership (PPP) model, combining Thur Biotech’s expertise in biotechnology and biofertilizer production with EDA’s experience in monitoring, evaluation, coordination, and grant management.
During the reporting period (October–December 2025), the project successfully completed all start-up and foundational activities, including establishing governance structures, clarifying partner roles, and setting the operational framework. Preparatory activities for regional rollout, farmer outreach, and capacity-building were undertaken, with Thur Biotech leading biofertilizer production and delivery and EDA overseeing grant management and coordination. The monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system was initiated with indicators aligned to the project results framework.
The project positions smallholder farmers across six regions for the adoption of bio-based fertilizers and climate-smart agricultural practices, establishes a national-level framework for sustainable public–private collaboration in agriculture, and lays the groundwork for measurable climate, agricultural, and economic benefits in upcoming implementation phases.
Key Activities & Deliverables
Partnership & Governance Framework
- Operational Setup: Successfully established governance structures, clarified specific partner roles, and set the overall operational framework between Thur Biotech and EDA.
- National PPP Model: Laid the groundwork for a national-level framework for sustainable public-private partnerships in agriculture, combining biotechnology production with robust grant management.
Production & Regional Rollout Preparation
- Rollout Strategy: Completed preparatory activities for farmer outreach, capacity building, and regional rollout across six targeted regions.
- Input Management: Mobilized Thur Biotech to lead biofertilizer production and delivery, while setting up EDA to oversee coordination and grant management.
Monitoring & Accountability Systems
- MEL Implementation: Initiated the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) system, locking in key indicators that align precisely with the project's long-term results framework.
