Omo-Ghibe Living Landscape: Launch updates, field mission insights, coordination modalities and strategic focus areas

The meeting on 07 May 2026 at the ILRI campus in Addis Ababa brought CGIAR center representatives together to coordinate interventions for the Omo-Ghibe Living Landscape under the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes framework. Based on launch events and a joint field mission, participants analyzed key landscape challenges like low agricultural productivity, soil degradation, landslides, deforestation, limited market access, and climate risks. They also identified strong opportunities to scale up agroecological practices, promote integrated landscape management, and collaborate with local partners.Updates showed that foundational activities are already underway, including baseline assessments, stakeholder engagement, pilot projects, and capacity building. To build on this, participants agreed to shift from fragmented activities to a focused, phased implementation model. Key technical priorities include landslide and flood management, soil and water conservation, and inclusive value chains for agroforestry products. Finally, the group emphasized using evidence-based planning and improving coordination through a multistakeholder platform with clear workflows and regular updates.