On 19-20 November, the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), together with the host Ethiopian National Assembly, held a parliamentarians’ meeting on ICPD Programme of Action in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The objective was to review the country's progress in the implementation of the ICPD agenda, highlight key population issues, and propose an action plan to address them. Approximately 30 parliamentarians attended the meeting. Although Ethiopia is making a significant stride in infrastructure development, the country is grappling with widening income disparity due to urbanization, the low status of women driven by cultural and religious factors, and the impacts of climate change. On the first day of the meeting, the participants recommended actionable measures to achieve the ICPD Programme of Action, including strengthening cooperation among parliamentarians, implementing training programmes for legislators, sharing success stories, and engaging with local communities to bridge gaps. Based on these recommendations, the establishment of the "Ethiopian Parliamentarians Forum on Population and Development" was agreed upon. On the second day, the group visited the Women's Caucus, the Ministry of Planning, and other relevant institutions to exchange views.

This programme was supported by UNFPA and Japan Trust Fund (JTF), in cooperation with International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).