Ethiopia Wheat Value Chain Development Project

Adaptation Need

Ethiopia’s wheat sector is highly vulnerable to climate change, with rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells reducing yields and increasing postharvest losses. To strengthen food security and reduce reliance on disrupted global supply chains, the country must invest in climate-resilient wheat production—through promotion of heat-tolerant varieties, improved irrigation, and value chain infrastructure for storage, processing, and market access.

GCA’s Added Value

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is providing targeted technical assistance to strengthen climate adaptation in Ethiopia’s wheat value chain. This includes identifying different groups of smallholder farmers based on their connectivity, literacy levels, and adaptation needs; assessing digital service providers and matching their services to specific farmer groups; and designing tailored digital advisory bundles that fit both the farmers’ needs and the service providers’ capabilities. GCA will also prepare a feasibility study and integration plan, facilitating stakeholder alignment on digital extension priorities, and supporting the training of extension agents using the Ethiopian Digital Climate Advisory Platform (EDCaP).
GCA, in collaboration with CGIAR partners – CIMMYT, CIAT, IWMI, is also scaling climate-smart wheat systems by embedding resilient wheat varieties in Ethiopia, digital tools, and irrigation innovations into national systems to help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change.