DPG Heads of Agencies Convene for High Level Dialogue on Federal Courts Reform in Ethiopia

Photo: H.E. Tewodros Meherete, President of the Federal Supreme Court, DPG Co‑Chair Paula Schindeler, H.E. State Minister Semereta Sewasew, and DPG Co-Chair Maryam Salim lead high‑level discussions on Ethiopia’s Federal Courts Reform during the DPG HoA meeting.

The Development Partners Group (DPG) convened its Heads of Agencies (HoA) meeting on 17 March 2026 in Addis Ababa to engage in a high‑level dialogue on Ethiopia’s ongoing Federal Courts Reform. The session, hosted at the Ministry of Finance, brought together ambassadors, heads of cooperation, senior government officials, and representatives from multilateral and bilateral agencies to review major reform achievements and identify areas for continued support.

H.E. Semereta Sewasew, State Minister of Finance, emphasized the transformative role of judicial reforms in promoting national peace, stability, and unity. She noted that a credible and independent judiciary is essential not only for ensuring justice, but also as a foundation for investment and economic growth, social cohesion, and conflict prevention.

Photo: H.E. Tewodros Meherete, President of the Federal Supreme Court, presents key reform initiatives advancing judicial independence, transparency, and efficient service delivery.

H.E. Tewodros Meherete, President of the Federal Supreme Court, delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining progress across judicial independence, transparency, digital transformation, institutional capacity, and improved service delivery. He underscored that the reform agenda is designed to enhance the credibility of Ethiopia’s justice system and its crucial role in economic development.

“Our overarching objective is to build an independent, efficient, and trusted judiciary that safeguards rights, enforces contracts, and reduces transactional risks, which are key drivers of economic growth in Ethiopia,” said H.E. Tewodros Meherete, noting major advancements such as smart courtroom technologies, improved case flow management, expanded public hearings, and strengthened judicial training.

Photo: DPG ambassadors and Heads of Agencies engage with senior government officials on priority areas for continued support to Ethiopia’s Federal Courts Transformation Roadmap.

Development partners welcomed progress made so far while highlighting priority areas where continued support is essential. Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Mr. Daniel Hachez reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to the justice sector and emphasized the importance of a predictable judicial environment for both citizens and investors.

“Stability, predictability, and certainty are essential for economic development. Investors need assurance that property rights are protected and disputes are resolved fairly and efficiently”, Mr. Hachez stated. He praised Ethiopia’s move toward specialized commercial benches, expanded mediation mechanisms, and digital reforms, while calling for sustained capacity building and strengthened institutional independence.

Photo: Participants gather in the meeting hall at the Ministry of Finance for the DPG Heads of Agencies dialogue on advancing Ethiopia’s justice sector reforms.

UNDP Ethiopia echoed these sentiments, stressing the strong link between judicial reforms, investment climate improvements, and Ethiopia’s long‑term development agenda, well-linked with the Ten-Year Development Plan. Mr. Fisseha Mekonnen, Team Leader for Democratic Governance and Peacebuilding, highlighted UNDP’s forthcoming multi-year and multi-partner programme to support justice and rule‑of‑law reforms.

“Anchoring the connection between judicial reform and investment is vital for promoting private‑sector growth. Our upcoming programme will help address remaining bottlenecks from legal frameworks to grievance handling systems to ensure an independent, accountable and transparent justice sector that truly supports Ethiopia’s development ambitions through coordinated efforts”, Mr. Fisseha noted.

The meeting also benefited from the active participation of private‑sector representatives, including EuroCham and the Ethiopian Netherlands Business Association (ENLBA). Both groups emphasized the importance of predictable legal processes, clear fee structures for mediation and arbitration, and strengthened regional court capacities. Their perspectives reinforced the private sector’s role as a key stakeholder in ensuring that judicial reforms translate into a more stable, transparent, and investment‑friendly business environment.

Participants also raised issues related to regional court capacities, investor grievance mechanisms, corruption perceptions, gender inclusion, and access to justice, especially through digital platforms, customary justice systems, and court‑annexed mediation.

DPG Co‑Chairs reaffirmed development partners’ strong engagement in supporting the Government of Ethiopia’s reform priorities. The meeting concluded with commitments to deepen coordination, provide technical and financial support where appropriate, and maintain the momentum of the Federal Courts Transformation Roadmap.