RCSD is part of the Environment for Development (EfD) network, a global collaborative of research centers that advance sustainable development through evidence-based policy and capacity development. RCSD at Addis Ababa University generates policy-relevant research, strengthens domestic analytical capacity, and serves as a bridge between research and policy to advance Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) vision.
The center’s core functions are anchored in three pillars:
Policy research – conducting rigorous studies on the economics of climate and environment to inform Ethiopia’s green and climate-resilient development.
Capacity development – building domestic analytical expertise through graduate programs in the Department of Economics, support for young scholars, and on-the-job training of policy actors.
Policy engagement – serving as an interaction hub that connects researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to ensure evidence-based decision-making.
RCSD also develops a data and knowledge repository on Ethiopia’s green growth experience and fosters collaboration with domestic and international partners. Most of its research fellows are drawn from the Department of Economics at Addis Ababa University, providing a strong academic base for its multidisciplinary research.
Rationale
Ethiopia’s Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy charts an ambitious path to sustain rapid economic growth while enhancing resilience and keeping emissions low, positioning the country as a potential global leader in green growth. Achieving this vision requires more than commitment; it demands robust policy-oriented research, credible data, and effective knowledge management to guide implementation. RCSD exists to meet this need by fostering dynamic partnerships between domestic and international researchers, government, and non-government stakeholders, ensuring that Ethiopia’s green transition is grounded in evidence and aligned with national priorities.
Programs
To deliver on its mission, RCSD implements four interlinked programs that together ensure rigorous research, strong domestic capacity, effective policy engagement, and a robust knowledge base:
- Policy Research and Impact Evaluation (PRIE) program;
- Capacity Development (CD) program
- Policy Interaction and Communication (PIC) program;
- Data Management and Knowledge Repository (DMKR) program;
Policy Research and Impact Evaluation (PRIE)
The PRIE program is the centerpiece of RCSD’s work, with the other programs designed to reinforce and complement it. Research themes include:
- Climate policy and development
- Sustainable agriculture
- Sustainable water management
- Sustainable energy transition
- Sustainable green industrialization
- Sustainable urbanization
Capacity Development (CD)
RCSD is dedicated to strengthening Ethiopia’s long-term capacity to deliver on the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) vision. The center equips government and non-government stakeholders with cutting-edge analytical skills on climate and environment, while also enhancing teaching and research at Addis Ababa University, other universities, and think tanks. RCSD builds the next generation of researchers and data professionals by embedding training throughout the research cycle and linking them with international institutions for advanced methods and tools. Through these efforts, RCSD serves as a catalyst for sustained domestic expertise in climate and environmental economics.
Policy Interaction and Communication (PIC)
The PIC program is the bridge between research and policy. It ensures that RCSD’s research outputs reach the right stakeholders in accessible and actionable ways, while also facilitating dialogue throughout the research process. In addition to communication, PIC drives the center’s knowledge management strategy—creating platforms for gathering, organizing, and sharing evidence among policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. Through these efforts, PIC strengthens collaboration, accelerates learning, and supports effective implementation of Ethiopia’s CRGE vision.
Data Management and Knowledge Repository (DMKR)
The DMKR program is the backbone of RCSD’s research ecosystem, ensuring that knowledge is accessible, reliable, and reusable. It provides researchers with seamless access to quantitative datasets and frontier literature, helping to identify research gaps and refine methodologies. DMKR also supports the generation of high-quality primary data and integrates qualitative insights to add contextual depth to analysis. By systematically documenting data, literature, and research outputs, DMKR builds a living repository of Ethiopia’s green growth experience—empowering RCSD’s researchers, partners, and policymakers to base decisions on solid evidence and to build upon past work.