Genetic Resources Access & Benefit Sharing Research

Genetic Issues e-Booklet
ABS Issues e-Booklet Vol.2(1)

The Access & Benefit Sharing Research Lead Executive at the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute is responsible for leading Ethiopia’s national efforts to regulate access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, and to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use. As the focal entity for implementing Ethiopia’s Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework, this office develops and enforces legal, research, and operational systems to protect Ethiopia’s biodiversity, uphold community rights, and advance sustainable development through scientific innovation.

Vision

By 2040, our vision is for Ethiopia to be recognized as a center of excellence in equitable Access and Benefit Sharing – a country where biodiversity is conserved, traditional knowledge is protected, and benefits are shared justly with local communities and the nation. We strive to be Africa’s benchmark for biodiversity stewardship through an inclusive and transparent ABS research and policy system.

Major Goals

  • Equity & Justice – Guarantee equitable benefit sharing across all users.
  • Biodiversity Conservation – Incentivize conservation through ABS mechanisms.
  • Community Knowledge Protection – Recognize and protect community-held knowledge.
  • Research & Innovation – Boost studies on genetic resources, traditional uses, and their economic potential.
  • Regulatory Leadership – Strengthen ABS enforcement and compliance.

Core Responsibilities

As mandated in national legislation and EBI’s institutional structure, the ABS Research Lead Executive:

  • Issue permits for commercial and non-commercial access to genetic resources and associated knowledge.
  • Regulates illegal transfer of genetic resources and community (traditional) knowledge.
  • Promotes genetic resources (species/subspecies/varieties) for ABS activities.
  • Surveys and documents community knowledge, innovation, and practices.
  • Conducts ABS-related research: bioprospecting, valuation, IAS studies, and ethnobotany.
  • Recommends amendments to ABS laws and regulations when needed.
  • Collaborates with national/international R&D institutions on biodiversity research.
  • Builds stakeholder capacity through technical training and advisory support.
  • Facilitates policy recommendations and legal frameworks related to genetic resources.
  • Ensures digital integration and information dissemination through databases.
  • Produces outreach materials (E-books, leaflets, brochures, newsletters, etc.).
  • Hosts awareness forums with communities and stakeholders.
  • Coordinates control and monitoring of Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
  • Enhances ABS knowledge management via digital systems.

Organizational Structure

The ABS Research Lead Executive is organized into three technical desks:

  1. Access & Benefit Sharing Desk – Manages access procedures, MATs, legal reviews, and benefit tracking.
  2. Bioprospecting & Community Knowledge Desk – Coordinates research on bio-economically relevant species, community knowledge, and bio-cultural protocols.
  3. Invasive Alien Species & GMOs Desk – Leads research, risk assessment, and national responses to IAS and GMOs.

These teams combine legal, scientific, and community outreach expertise to implement ABS comprehensively.

Key Services

  • ABS permits for research, academic, and commercial purposes.
  • Negotiation on benefit-sharing agreements & Monitoring on ABS contract compliance.
  • Legal and technical advisory support to users.
  • Public awareness, stakeholder engagement, and training.
  • Advisory on compliance with national and international ABS treaties (e.g., Nagoya Protocol).
  • Assistance in developing bio-cultural community protocols (BCPs).

Recent Publications

  1. Amare Seifu et al. (2018). Abundance and Socioeconomic Importance of Osyris quadripartita in South Omo and Gamo Gofa Zones, SNNPR. IJMPR, 2(4): 15–21.
  2. Amare Seifu et al. (2019). Assessment of Invasive Alien Plant Species Cryptostegia grandiflora in East Shewa Zone, Oromia. IJMPR, 3(2): 01–08.
  3. Amare Seifu et al. (2019). Economic Valuation of Lippia adoensis: Implications for ABS Agreements in Sidama and West Arsi Zones. MOJ Ecology & Environmental Sciences, 4(5).
  4. Amare Seifu et al. (2019). Economic Valuation of Phytolacca dodecandera in Semen Shewa Zone, Amhara Region. Discovery, 55(288): 644–653.
  5. Amare Seifu et al. (2023). Abundance of Xanthium spinosum and its impacts. Journal of Environment and Sustainability, 7(3): 190–206.
  6. Amare Seifu et al. (2024). Allelopathic potential of Xanthium strumarium. Journal of Biological Studies, 7(3): 70–94.
  7. Amare Seifu et al. (2023). Allelopathic potential of Cryptostegia grandiflora on Linum usitatissimum and Guizotia abyssinica. For. Glob. Change, 6: 1131815.
  8. Amare Seifu et al. (2016). Bioprospecting potential of Ocimum basilicum. Advances in Bioscience and Bioengineering, 4(4): 35–42.
  9. Amare Seifu et al. (2018). Bioprospecting potentials of Dioscorea species in Gedio and Sidama Zones. Appl. Biotech & Bioeng., 5(3).
  10. Amare Seifu & Tesfaye Bekele (2019). Valuation of Lippia adoensis for ABS. MOJ Ecology & Environmental Sciences, 4(5).
  11. Assefa AS & Fitamo D (2016). The Ethnobotanical Study and Distribution Patterns of Enset Landraces in Aleta Chuko District. Research Journal of Biology, e-ISSN: 2322-0066.
  12. Faris G., Waktole G., Tilahun R. (2021). Community Conserved Traditional Cuisine Arts in Borena Zone, Ethiopia. Science Research, 9(5): 75–79.
  13. Faris G. et al. (2020). Traditional yeast preservation and Teff Injera knowledge in East and West Gojam. Biodiversity Int. J., 4(1): 36–40.
  14. Gebiyaw Tilaye et al. (2023). Abundance of Xanthium spinosum L. along different land types in North Shewa. Journal of Environment and Sustainability, 7(3): 190–206.
  15. Gebiyaw Tilaye et al. (2023). Modeling the current and future potential distribution of Arabis alpina using MaxEnt. Sustainability, Agri, Food & Environmental Research.
  16. Gebiyaw Tilaye et al. (2025). Teff phytochemicals: Allelopathic and antimicrobial potential. Microbial Pathogenesis, 199: 107206.
  17. Guta Waktole et al. (2021). Documentation of Coffee-related Traditional Knowledge in Jimma, Ilubabor, and West Wollega. European Journal of Biophysics, 9(1): 1–8.
  18. Nigussie Seboka et al. (2017). Invasion and impact of Xanthium strumarium in Borena Zone, Oromia. Journal of Coastal Life Medicine.
  19. Rahel Tilahun et al. (2020). Isolation of Antibiotic-producing Actinobacteria from Biowaste Soil. J. Microbiology and Biotechnology, 5(4): 203–206.
  20. Rahel Tilahun et al. (2023). Traditional Knowledge on Medicinal Plants for Respiratory Diseases in Yem Woreda. Science Research, 11(1): 1–7.
  21. Temesgen Tigab (2023). Livestock Predation Around Guna Mountain. EthJBD, 4(2): 169–186.
  22. Temesgen Tigab (2024). Macrophyte species, composition, abundance, and diversity in Upper Awash River Basin. IJSTEM, 4(4): 1–18.
  23. Tesfaye Bekele et al. (2019). Status of Osyris quadripartita in Borena and West Guji Zones. Biodiversity Int. J., 3(2).
  24. Yibrehu Emshaw et al. (2021). Fermented Water Hyacinth for Fish Feed. Zoological and Entomological Letters, 1(2): 48–55.

Key Instruments and Frameworks

  • International Commitments:

    • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
    • Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing

  • National Instruments:

    • ABS Proclamation No. 482/2006
    • ABS Regulation No. 169/2009

  • Emerging Themes:

    • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
    • Bioinformatics
    • Digital Monitoring Systems

Get Involved

We welcome collaboration with researchers, Local communities, investors, policy makers, and development partners to enhance sustainable, inclusive, and legally sound ABS in Ethiopia.

Contact the GRs ABS Research Lead Executive at EBI:
📞 +251-116-612244 / +251-116-615607
📧 info@ebi.gov.et

We’re ready to support your ABS inquiries, research needs, or collaboration proposals to promote fair and equitable utilization of genetic resources and empowering local communities.