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. Hosted at the Ministry of Finance, the session 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, Minister of Finance, emphasized that  the transformative role of judicial reform in fostering national peace, stability, and unity. She highlighted that a credible, independent judiciary is essential not only for justice but also as a foundation for economic growth, social cohesion, and conflict prevention. 

H.E. Tewodros Meherete, President of the Federal Supreme Court, delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining progress across several key areas, including 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. He highlighted major advancements such as smart courtroom technologies, improved case flow management, expanded public hearings, and strengthened judicial training.

Development partners welcomed the progress made so far while underscoring priority areas where continued support is essential. Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Mr. Daniel Hachez reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to strengthening Ethiopia’s 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 reinforced institutional independence.

UNDP Ethiopia echoed these sentiments, stressing the strong link between judicial reforms, investment climate improvements, and Ethiopia’s long-term development agenda, closely aligned 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 and ensuring peace and stability across the country. Our upcoming programme will help address remaining bottlenecks from legal frameworks to grievance handling systems, ensuring an independent, accountable, and transparent justice sector that truly supports Ethiopia’s development ambitions through coordinated efforts,” Mr. Fisseha noted.

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

The DPG Co-Chairs reaffirmed the strong engagement of development partners 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.