Global Green Growth Institute Director-General Richard Samans (second from right) poses with Norwegian representative to the GGGI Council Øystein Kåre Djupedal (left), Norwegian Ambassador to Korea Torbjorn Holthe (second from left), and Mesfin Midekssa, charge d’affaires of Ethiopia, after signing a grant agreement at the GGGI’s headquarters in central Seoul on Thursday. (GGGI)

Norway signed an agreement with the Global Green Growth Institute on Thursday to provide $8 million to support environmentally friendly development in Ethiopia.

Under the deal, the GGGI will lead research and help with policy planning in the African country.

Norway is a founding member and donor partner of the GGGI, which was set up by the Korean government in 2010 and became an international organization in October.

The Seoul-based institute envisages a “think and act tank” that brings together donor and recipient countries to share experiences and technology know-how for eco-friendly development.

Korea, Denmark, Australia and the United Arab Emirates promised to inject $5 million a year for “core funding,” while other donors such as Britain and Norway are contributing unspecified sums on a program basis.

Among the 18 founding members, nine countries have ratified the GGGI including Korea, Denmark, Qatar, Vietnam and Guyana.

By Shin Hyon-hee  (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)