Abebe D. Beyene is a senior research fellow at the Environment and Climate Research Center (ECRC) based at the Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute (PSI). His field of specialization is in environmental economics which include natural resource management, energy, climate change and agriculture. Methodologically he has a focus on applying micro-econometrics such as cross-section and panel data econometrics. Abebe has published his research works in a number of reputable journals. He taught various courses in economics both at undergraduate and graduate levels. He obtained his PhD degree in Economics from the University of Pretoria.

Research interest

His current research focuses on household energy choice, improved cook stove use and REDD+, forest and people’s livelihood, and adaptation to climate change such as analyzing the impact of sustainable land management practices. Currently Abebe is involved in research projects ’Communal Natural Resource Management and Agricultural Transformation: The Case of Forest User Groups in Ethiopia; and Rural households, Agriculture, and Climate change – why and how farmers (do not) adapt in Ethiopia (RACE).

Mentoring

External examiners of several MSc and PhD thesis.
Supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students (both MSc and PhD)

Grants and consultancy

I have been involved in various research projects both as a principal investigator (PI) and team member. Some selected projects are:

Project member (local PI): Communal Natural Resource Management and Agricultural Transformation: The Case of Forest User Groups in Ethiopia” A project funded by The Agricultural Technology Adoption Initiative (ATAI), USA: Funding amount of $377,210.00. Approved in 2022.
Rural households, Agriculture, and Climate change – why and how farmers (do not) adapt in Ethiopia (RACE): A project funded by DANIDA, Approved budget: Danish krone (DKK) 12,000,000.00 in 2022.
Policy-research partnerships for pragmatic evaluation of climate change adaptation and development models in the ag-energy sector: A Collaboration between the Shell Foundation, Environment for Development, and Duke’s Energy Access Project. Year 2021
Member of the collaborative project on ‘Solar-powered irrigation systems and resilience to climate change: a viability analysis: A collaborative project funded by Sida through EfD, Budget: USD 81,190. Start in Year 2023.
Principal investigator (PI) of the project ‘Impacts and Drivers of Policies for Electricity Access: Micro-and-Macroeconomic evidence from Ethiopia’.Total approved budget £418,395. Approved in year 2018.

Consultancy works

Green Legacy Initiative for Sustainable Economic Development in Ethiopia: A contract with the Ethiopian Economics Association (EEA)
Exploring the socio-economic impacts of pay-as-you-go solar home systems in Ethiopia- A contract with Shell Foundation, UK
Exploring the ecosystem limits to poverty alleviation in African forest-agriculture landscapes: Part of the socioeconomic team
Analysis of poverty profile and inequality in IGAD countries. Contract with the Horn Economic and Social Policy Institute (HESPI)

Policy Engagement

Member of Executive committee of the Ethiopian Clean Cooking Alliance (ECCA)
Organize and participated in various policy workshops in Ethiopia

Publications

A review of impacts of electricity tariff reform in Africa

Pre-paid meters and household electricity use behaviors: Evidence from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Effect of electricity price reform on households’ electricity consumption in urban Ethiopia

Barriers to Off-Grid Energy Development: Evidence from a Comparative Survey of Private Sector Energy Service Providers in Eastern Africa

Analysis of food security among eucalyptus tree farming smallholder farmers in Gurage Zone, Ethiopia: An application of a composite food security indicator

People | 12 October 2009