Council of Ministers Passes Decisions after Deliberating on Issues

Addis Ababa, June 26, 2026 (ENA)__The Council of Ministers passed a series of decisions after deliberating on multiple issues during its 57th regular session.

The Council first discussed three financial support and loan agreements with the International Development Association (IDA).

The first agreement provides a loan of 437,400,000 SDR for the implementation of a sustainable and inclusive development policy. The second totals 145,500,000 SDR for a community-based land management program.

The third is valued at 54,600,000 SDR for the Climate-Resilient Irrigation Development for Sustainable Productivity Project.

After confirming that all three agreements comply with the country’s loan policy, the Council unanimously decided to submit the draft proclamations ratifying the agreements to the House of People’s Representatives.

The Council also deliberated on draft regulations setting service fees for services provided by the Ministry of Water and Energy, the Ethiopian Archives and Library Service, and the Educational Assessment and Examination Service.

The drafts aim to allow the institutions to cover service delivery costs through internal revenue generated from service-user fees, while establishing a system to ensure quality services aligned with service users’ capabilities.

Following extensive deliberation, the Council unanimously agreed to incorporate additional inputs and to have the regulations take effect from the date of their publication in the Federal Negarit Gazette.

In another agenda item, the Council reviewed a draft proclamation approving Ethiopia’s accession agreement establishing the New Development Bank. The government said accession would offer Ethiopia alternative sources of financing for national development, support infrastructure development, strengthen macroeconomic stability, and enhance linkages with South–South financial systems.

After deliberations, the Council unanimously decided to forward the draft proclamation to the House of People’s Representatives with additional inputs.

The Council further discussed a draft Construction Industry Policy, noting that the construction sector plays a crucial role in national development. It said the policy issued in 2014 has been implemented for several years, but persistent gaps remain in technological progress, urbanization, and rising infrastructure demand.

Following extensive discussion, the Council, with the addition of inputs, unanimously decided to implement the policy starting June 26, 2026, once approved by the Council.

Finally, the Council considered a draft urban development policy. The existing policy, issued in 2005 and in effect for about two decades, has addressed challenges related to governance in cities, improved economic competitiveness, strengthened service delivery, expanded rural–urban and urban–urban linkages, and supported infrastructure, manufacturing, and services institutions.

Acknowledging remaining gaps, the Council reviewed the new policy intended to consolidate and further enhance recent positive changes in urban areas.

The Council, with added inputs, unanimously decided to implement the new urban development policy from June 26, 2026, after its approval.