Ethiopia’s Upper House Speaker highlights national progress, calls for global solidarity on SDGs

Addis Ababa, April 7, 2025 (FMC) — Speaker of Ethiopia’s House of Federation, Agegnehu Teshager, has called for enhanced international cooperation and stronger parliamentary action to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), during his address at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), currently underway in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

A high-level Ethiopian delegation led by Agegnehu is participating in the Assembly, which has brought together all statutory bodies of the IPU, including the Governing Council, Standing Committees, and forums for Women and Young Parliamentarians.

Speaking on April 6, Agegnehu congratulated IPU members on the Union’s 150th anniversary and underscored the organization’s achievements in fostering parliamentary collaboration.

He emphasized that, with just five years remaining until the SDG deadline, significant global targets remain unmet.

“Key goals, including access to education, clean water, energy, healthcare, zero hunger, and gender equality, still demand substantial international cooperation,” he noted. “Amid rising inequality, poverty, and youth unemployment, development must remain people-centered and focused on addressing structural inequalities.”

He highlighted the critical role of national parliaments in both legislating and overseeing efforts aimed at achieving sustainable development, citing Ethiopia’s own initiatives as a case in point.

Agegnehu outlined Ethiopia’s 10-year national development plan, which aligns with both the 2030 SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. He pointed to progress made in poverty reduction, universal health coverage, education, and access to clean energy. He also mentioned the country’s Green Legacy initiative, which has seen the planting of 40 billion seedlings to combat climate change and promote food security.

He emphasized the role of Ethiopia’s parliament in supporting pro-poor policies through increased budget allocations, ratification of investment and employment-promoting agreements, and resource distribution through the House of Federation to enhance regional infrastructure and basic services.

“Achieving sustainable development requires a whole-of-government approach, with parliaments playing a leading role,” he stated. He concluded by reaffirming Ethiopia’s commitment to strengthening parliamentary oversight and legislation, and urged IPU members and development partners to enhance global partnerships in the fight against underdevelopment.

It is noteworthy that the IPU 150 General Debate focuses on the overall theme Parliamentary action for social development and justice and provide a platform for delegates to deliberate, exchange views and galvanize parliamentary action in this area.

The Assembly will adopt resolutions on the emergency item and on the subject items taken up by the Standing Committee on Peace and International Security entitled The role of parliaments in advancing a two-State solution in Palestine and by the Standing Committee on Sustainable Development entitled Parliamentary strategies to mitigate the long-lasting impact of conflicts, including armed conflicts, on sustainable development.

The Assembly is expected to conclude with the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme of the General Debate.