The Africa Center of Excellence in Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation (ACE Climate SABC) of Haramaya University proudly participated in the Third International Conference on “Regional-Level Cooperation Within BRICS: Modern Environmental and Nature Management Issues”, held from 14–18 September 2026 in Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia, Russia.
The Center was represented by Dr. Anteneh Belayneh, Associate Director for Project Management, who delivered a plenary talk entitled: “Empowering Africa’s Youth for Climate-Smart Development: Insights from ACE Climate SABC, Ethiopia.” This high-level BRICS forum provided a valuable platform to showcase the achievements of ACE Climate SABC and Haramaya University, while opening new avenues for collaboration and partnership among BRICS countries.
The Karelian Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with its distinguished 80-year history, expressed strong interest in forging closer ties with Haramaya University, which itself celebrates 75 years of academic excellence. Recognizing their shared legacy and complementary strengths, both institutions have agreed to establish a joint team to facilitate collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership marks a significant step toward advancing climate-smart agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and youth empowerment, reinforcing Haramaya University’s role as a leading institution in Africa’s sustainable development journey.
