The Ethiopia CIC is an initiative supported by the World Bank?s infoDev, and is part of a global network of CICs being launched by infoDev?s Climate Technology Program (CTP) in the Caribbean, Ghana, India, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, and Vietnam. The Ethiopia CIC is funded by the United Kingdom?s UKaid and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a key component of DFID?s Strategic Climate Institutions Program (SCIP) in Ethiopia and the Government of Ethiopia?s Climate Resilience and Green Economy (CRGE) vision - which provides Ethiopia with a common goal and road map for achieving a climate resilient green economy by 2025.

The Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center (ECIC) supports Ethiopian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are developing innovative solutions that address climate change challenges. The center aims to accelerate the development, deployment and transfer of climate technologies by providing SMEs a set of holistic country-driven support services, including early-stage financing, business support and capacity building.

Through the center?s programs, activities and financing, the Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center and its network of partners and stakeholders will provide a regionally driven approach to solving climate, energy and resource challenges and support economic development through job creation. The ECIC will deliver funding to up to 40 climate technology entrepreneurs and equity investments to over 20 companies, generating up to 2,800 direct and indirect jobs after 5 years and over 12,000 long-term jobs. With investment returning a 12% IRR, the Center aims to cover 56% of its yearly operating costs and 100% of yearly investment costs after 7 years.

As the 17^th Eco-generation regional Ambassador, I will try to contact the ECIC, tell them about TUNZA Eco-generation and hopefully work with them for the campaigns I am planning ahead.

This Article was mostly taken from the ECIC website with a slight modification.