June 21, 2025 (Bishoftu, Ethiopia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia and with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), successfully held a National Dialogue with Women Parliamentarians and Duty Bearers on Gender, Land, and Climate Resilience from 20th to 21st June 2025 in Bishoftu.
The forum formed part of a broader series of national consultations taking place across IGAD Member States under the regional initiative “Strengthening Advisory Capacities for Land Governance in the IGAD Region.” Its principal objective is to enhance the leadership of women in land governance and foster policy coherence in addressing the gender-climate-land nexus through inclusive and evidence-based approaches.
The dialogue commenced with official remarks delivered by Mr. Abebaw Bihonegn, IGAD Head of Mission to Ethiopia, on behalf of H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD Executive Secretary. In his statement, Mr. Bihonegn underscored IGAD’s strategic commitment to supporting Member States in aligning national efforts with global and regional policy frameworks:
“IGAD’s mandate to build institutional capacities within its Member States is designed to facilitate the implementation of global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and relevant IGAD regional policies. These frameworks must be effectively integrated into national development plans and sectoral strategies, particularly in areas related to gender equality, sustainable land governance, and climate justice.”
Additional opening remarks were provided by Hon. Lomi Bedo, Deputy Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives; Dr. Tulu Besha, GIZ Representative; and H.E. Prof. Eyasu Elias, State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture. The speakers reiterated Ethiopia’s dedication to advancing inclusive governance, gender-responsive land policies, and climate-resilient development pathways.
Over the course of the two-day dialogue, participants—including women parliamentarians, senior policymakers, technical experts, and civil society representatives—deliberated on a wide range of issues at the intersection of gender, land tenure, and climate resilience.
Key thematic areas included:
- The status and national implementation of the Women’s Land Rights Agenda in Ethiopia
- Progress on Ethiopia’s Gender and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan
- Institutional and legislative barriers to women’s full participation in land governance
- Budgetary frameworks and policy tools for gender-responsive and climate-smart programming
Parliamentarians from key standing committees—covering agriculture, natural resources, social development, and finance—shared perspectives on how legislative bodies can champion gender-transformative land reform and climate action.
Day 2 of the dialogue provided space for deeper policy engagement and strategic reflection. Participants worked in facilitated sessions to:
- Define policy priorities that enhance women’s access to and control over land
- Identify pathways for multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination
- Develop strategies for challenging discriminatory norms and practices
- Draft key recommendations for strengthening institutional accountability and resilience at both national and regional levels
The Ethiopia dialogue will result in the production of a national policy brief aligned with the country’s Women’s Land Rights Agenda and climate resilience strategies. These outcomes will feed into the upcoming Regional Dialogue, scheduled to take place from 9th to 11th July 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, where IGAD Member States will consolidate national contributions into a regional action framework.
IGAD remains committed to advancing equitable land governance systems, promoting gender justice, and building climate resilience through coordinated regional action and inclusive national leadership.
