Nuru Ethiopia Named RAIN Challenge Finalist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2026

Contact: Tatek Amataw | info@nuruet.org

ARBA MINCH–Nuru Ethiopia has been selected as a finalist for the Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP). Out of more than 1,900 applications, Nuru Ethiopia was chosen as one of 89 total initiatives that form a global cohort spanning 44 countries. These initiatives advance locally-led solutions that strengthen communities, protect ecosystems, and build a more resilient future.

“Being selected as a RAIN Challenge finalist highlights the importance of locally-led innovation in transforming our agricultural communities. This recognition and support give us vital momentum to scale sustainable practices that protect our environment and secure a resilient future for our farmers.” – Nuru Ethiopia Managing Director Abiy Meshesha

Supported by the GRP, Trafigura Foundation, Shockwave Foundation, and Munich Re Foundation, the RAIN Challenge seeks transformative, locally-led solutions that support resilience across the Global South. Specifically, the initiative aims to convert seed-level agricultural ideas meeting resilience needs in East Africa into sustainable business models. As a finalist, Nuru Ethiopia will receive tailored mentorship, monitoring and evaluation support, and the opportunity to submit a revised proposal in September. 

“We highly value the mentorship program as it will help us strengthen our proposal and better position our project to create lasting benefits for the communities we serve. It will also be a good learning opportunity.” -Tatek Amataw, Nuru Ethiopia Nuru Ethiopia Monitoring & Evaluation Program Manager

While smallholder farmers organized in cooperative unions aspire to transform degraded land through agroforestry, they often lack the practical tools to track whether nurseries produce healthy seedlings, transplanting succeeds, or trees survive long enough to restore the landscape. To address this, Nuru Ethiopia’s proposed project, “Local MRV Systems for Cooperative Agroforestry in Ethiopia,” aims to build a cooperative-led agroforestry measurement system. Piloted with the Esipe Dicha Union in the Gofa Zone—a union supporting 11,498 farmer households—the project will implement field-ready measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) tools. Once tested in the Esipe Dicha Union, the scalable model is designed to expand across Nuru Ethiopia’s wider network of seven cooperative unions, currently reaching over 38,000 households.

Nuru-supported tree nursery. Photo Credit: Dr. Matthew Aghai

RAIN Challenge winners, comprising approximately 20 initiatives receiving awards of either $25,000 or $50,000, will be announced in November at COP31. In addition to the financial support, this fourth cohort of grantees will be provided with connections to investors, tailored mentoring, and communications support. View the previous winners here. 

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About Nuru Ethiopia:

Nuru Ethiopia is a local nonprofit organization that works to build resilience in vulnerable communities in rural Ethiopia by developing member-owned agribusiness enterprises to lift families out of extreme poverty by 2030. Since 2012, Nuru Ethiopia has impacted more than 235,000 people by supporting 286 member-owned agribusinesses.

About Global Resilience Fund:

The Global Resilience Partnership operates as a partner organisation through two distinct yet aligned organisational units, one located in South Africa, through the independently registered GRP Non-Profit Company (GRP NPC), and the other in Sweden, through the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC).