@sustainabledevelopment – Ethiopian Business Review

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The House of People’s Representatives has reviewed two landmark draft proclamations—one proposing payments for ecosystem services and the other reforming agricultural extension systems. These initiatives could reshape how natural resources and farming support systems function in Ethiopia.

During its 32nd regular session, the House referred both draft proclamations to their respective standing committees for in-depth review and stakeholder consultation, following their unanimous endorsement by the Council of Ministers in its 45th regular meeting earlier this week.

The draft proclamation on ecosystem services fees, presented by Chief Government Whip, Tesfaye Beljige (PhD), highlights Ethiopia’s untapped ecological capital and the urgent need to protect it. Stressing that Ethiopia’s diverse ecosystems are under mounting pressure due to unsustainable practices, he noted the proposal aims to create a legal structure that allows federal and regional governments, NGOs, and the private sector to contribute to and benefit from ecosystem service payments.

The draft law on multi-stakeholder agricultural extension services, also presented by Tesfaye, seeks to overhaul Ethiopia’s decades-old, government-only approach. The reform would open the door for private actors, NGOs, cooperatives, and professional associations to deliver agricultural support services. The goal is to improve quality, accessibility, and efficiency—backed by digital tools and accountability mechanisms.

These legislative proposals follow the Council of Ministers’ 45th regular session, held earlier this week, which approved both drafts and forwarded them to the House. The Council emphasized the growing demand for resilient agricultural systems and sustainable resource management, endorsing the proposed frameworks as essential for long-term development.

The ecosystem services proclamation (No. 18/2017) has been assigned to the Standing Committee on Water, Irrigation, Lowland Areas, and Environmental Development—working in collaboration with the Standing Committee on Planning, Budget, and Finance. The agricultural extension proclamation (No. 19/2017) has been forwarded to the Standing Committee on Agricultural Affairs.

If passed into law, the bills could introduce new financing models for conservation, boost farmer productivity, and diversify participation in key sectors of the economy.

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In a diplomatic breakthrough announced during the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Brazil, Ethiopia and Thailand have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation—placing a spotlight on medical tourism as a promising new frontier.

Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and his Ethiopian counterpart, Gedion Timothewos, reached the understanding in a sideline meeting that highlighted mutual interest in expanding ties. With Thailand’s well-established medical tourism sector and Ethiopia’s growing middle class seeking healthcare alternatives abroad, the agreement signals a concrete step toward structured, people-centered cooperation.

Beyond healthcare, the ministers agreed to broaden engagement in the tourism sector and strengthen joint efforts to combat human trafficking. Minister Maris noted Thailand’s recent success in repatriating 135 Ethiopian nationals who had been lured into forced labor in Myanmar—a shared concern both nations committed to addressing with deeper collaboration.

Reinforcing its outreach to Africa, Thailand also invited Ethiopia to participate in the upcoming Thailand Development Forum for Africa, set to take place in Bangkok from May 11–16. The forum will present Thailand’s development model to 15 African countries, including Ethiopia, aiming to foster investment, trade, and capacity-building partnerships. Minister Gedion welcomed the invitation and expressed interest in learning from Thailand’s progress, especially in areas like healthcare, economic development, and social protection.

Safaricom Ethiopia has emerged as a standout player within the Vodacom Group, securing two prestigious awards at the Vodacom Group External Relations 2025 Conference, held from April 7-10 in Fancourt, George, South Africa. The company was recognized for Best Stakeholder Engagement Leadership and Best Youth Empowerment Partner, affirming its growing influence across the continent.

The accolades highlight Safaricom Ethiopia’s strategic leadership and social impact, particularly in its efforts to build trust with key stakeholders and advance youth-focused initiatives. The recognition comes as the company continues to cement its role in Ethiopia’s digital and economic transformation, just over two years since launching operations.

The annual conference brought together Vodacom’s external relations teams from eight markets—Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Egypt, the DRC, and Lesotho—alongside delegates from Vodafone UK, Safaricom Kenya, GSMA, consultants, and leading industry experts. The forum provided an opportunity to share innovative practices, deepen cross-border collaboration, and celebrate exceptional performance.

Cooperative Bank of Oromia took center stage at this week’s United Nations Global Compact conference in Kampala, representing the country at the 11th Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. The bank participated in high-level discussions on accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the continent.

During the SDG Activation Day sessions, Coopbank executives detailed the institution’s pioneering work in sustainable finance before an audience of policymakers, development experts and business leaders from across Africa. The bank highlighted its innovative approaches to financial inclusion, digital transformation and climate-smart banking that are delivering measurable impacts in Ethiopian communities.

The forum provided a platform for Coopbank to demonstrate how commercial banks can drive progress on critical development priorities while maintaining financial viability. The bank shared case studies of its gender-focused lending programs, digital financial services expansion into rural areas, and green financing initiatives supporting climate adaptation.

The bank’s ability to align its core operations with SDG targets has emerged as a potential model for other African financial institutions seeking to balance profit and purpose.

The strong reception to Coopbank’s participation signals growing recognition of Ethiopia’s leadership in developing homegrown solutions to Africa’s sustainable development challenges. The bank’s presentation particularly resonated with delegates from countries facing similar financial inclusion and climate resilience hurdles. The bank’s appearance at this high-profile continental event marks an important milestone in Ethiopia’s financial sector gaining influence in pan-African policy discussions.

The forum outcomes are expected to shape regional cooperation on sustainable finance initiatives in the coming year, with Ethiopian institutions like Coopbank positioned to play an increasingly prominent role.

A high-level Ethiopian delegation is participating in the 150th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, this week. The group, led by House of Federation Speaker Agegnehu Teshager, represents Ethiopia at one of the world’s largest gatherings of parliamentarians.

Addressing the international forum, Speaker Agegnehu delivered Ethiopia’s national statement, reiterating the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation through the IPU framework. He emphasized Ethiopia’s support for international efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The speaker outlined Ethiopia’s domestic development priorities, noting their alignment with both the UN’s SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. He referenced Ethiopia’s ongoing national development plan as evidence of this coordinated approach.

In his remarks, Agegnehu highlighted Ethiopia’s environmental initiatives, specifically mentioning the country’s large-scale tree planting program. He presented this as part of Ethiopia’s contribution to global climate change mitigation efforts.

The IPU assembly, which brings together legislators from 178 member states, serves as a platform for parliamentary diplomacy and international cooperation. Ethiopia’s participation underscores its continued engagement with global governance institutions.

The Ethiopian delegation is expected to hold bilateral meetings with other national delegations during the week-long conference. These discussions will focus on strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and sharing legislative best practices.

Ethiopia and France have solidified their ongoing economic partnership with the signing of a significant financial agreement aimed at advancing Ethiopia’s reform agenda. The agreement, concluded between Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), signals a critical step in supporting Ethiopia’s economic transformation through both budgetary and technical assistance.

The deal includes a USD27 million budget support package, with USD11.34 million already disbursed in December 2024, alongside a USD4.07 million grant for technical assistance. On December 21, 2024, Ethiopian Finance Minister H.E. Ahmed Shide and AFD CEO Rémy Rioux finalized the budget support agreement, while today’s technical assistance agreement was signed by State Minister of Finance H.E. Dr. Eyob Tekalign and AFD Country Director Mr. Louis-Antoine Souchet.

This agreement focuses on strengthening Ethiopia’s Homegrown Economic Reform (HGER) 2.0 through strategic reforms in key sectors. The technical assistance will be managed by the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank of Ethiopia, with a strong emphasis on financial sector reforms, restructuring State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), refining Public-Private Partnership (PPP) regulatory frameworks, and implementing sectoral reforms across multiple agencies.

State Minister of Finance Dr. Eyob Tekalign expressed that this partnership represents a significant milestone in Ethiopia’s reform journey. He explained that while the budgetary support will provide vital fiscal space, the technical assistance would play a pivotal role in enhancing the country’s Public-Private Partnerships, improving governance within SOEs, increasing financial sector competitiveness, and strengthening institutional capacity for effective policy execution.

Dr. Eyob further acknowledged AFD’s ongoing support, highlighting the flexibility of the technical assistance program, which accommodates multiple partners and ensures value for money.

In a similar vein, Mr. Louis-Antoine Souchet, AFD’s Country Director, reaffirmed his institution’s commitment to Ethiopia’s reform agenda. He emphasized that this collaboration was a reflection of France’s sustained investment in Ethiopia’s economic sustainability and public sector efficiency. AFD, he added, would continue to foster peer-to-peer exchanges and knowledge-sharing between French and Ethiopian institutions, ensuring successful reform implementation and long-term economic resilience.

House Reviews Landmark Bills to Monetize Ecosystems and Modernize Agriculture

Thailand Opens Doors to Ethiopian Medical Tourists in New Bilateral Deal

Safaricom Ethiopia Wins Double Recognition at Vodacom Group External Relations Conference 2025

Coop Bank Champions Sustainable Finance at UN Africa Forum

Ethiopian Delegation Advocates Multilateral Cooperation at 150th IPU Conference

Ethiopia and France Sign USD30.8 Million Agreement to Accelerate Economic Reform