Council of Ministers reviews and forwards two draft bills to parliament

Addis Ababa, May 21, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers, in its 45th regular session held virtually today, examined and referred two draft proclamations to the House of People’s Representatives for further review and final ratification.

The first item discussed was a draft proclamation on multi-stakeholder agricultural extension services and management. In Ethiopia, such services have historically been provided solely by the government.

However, due to growing demand in the sector, it has become necessary to introduce a structured system that enables the participation of non-governmental organizations, the private sector, cooperatives, and professional associations, as mentioned by the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

The proposed legal framework aims to facilitate this broader engagement in a coordinated and sustainable manner.

Convened by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Council also reviewed a draft proclamation concerning ecosystem service fees. Currently, the absence of a clear legal framework has led to inconsistent implementation of ecosystem-related payments by different institutions.

At this stage of development, it is considered essential to establish a law that defines the roles of federal and regional entities, as well as private and non-governmental actors, in managing ecosystem service contributions.

Following detailed deliberations on both matters, the Council of Ministers unanimously agreed to forward the two draft proclamations to the House of People’s Representatives for further consideration and final ratification.