The Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) is deeply concerned about the recent suspension of USAID projects worldwide, which significantly has negative impacts on the work of CSOs operating in Ethiopia. ECSOC recognizes that for years, USAID has been a crucial supporter of development and humanitarian efforts in Ethiopia through partnerships with numerous CSOs. However, the aftermath of the abrupt suspension will have inevitable consequences for these organizations and the communities they serve.

As a representative of the CSO sector in Ethiopia, the Council has established a dedicated team to explore coping system including alternative funding sources and support mechanisms for affected CSOs to mitigate the negative impacts.
In connection with this, the Council is also preparing to host a high level meeting to address this issue and find lasting solutions.

It is clear that the "Stop-Work-Executive Order" issued on January 20, 2025 by the U.S. President has impacted CSOs working in the areas of human rights, democracy, development, education, and health among others. ECSOC calls organizations to diligently work and apply coping mechanisms particularly in their life-saving works.

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ECSOC's Vice President and Executive Director on their part reiterated, that as an independent body with the mandate of representing the CSO sector, the Council will be closely following the developments in this matter and will continue to advocate and push for the organizations found to be operating within the civic spaces to be reinstated into their regular duties.

The Authority for Civil Society Organizations has appreciated the Council's vigilance and its effort to play its role in protecting the civic space.

The two sides have underscored the importance of collaboration to build and strengthen the CSO sector.

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A three day long workshop entitled CSO Engagement with Parliaments- Lessons Learned and International Best Practices is taking place in Bishoftu town, Oromia Regional State.

The workshop organized through the collaboration of the Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) aims to create a learning platform on parliamentary monitoring/engagement initiatives and engagement from other parliamentary monitoring organizations/CSOs throughout Africa.

Representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs), the House of Peoples Representatives and experts from other African nations are attending the workshop expected to conclude on Saturday.

In his opening remark Executive Director of the Council, Terefe Degeti said: "So far we have good partnership with HoPR after the reform of new CSO proclamation. We also need to build on this relationship, by enhancing our trust, and confidence and by engaging more in a constructive manner. This capacity building will be effective and adds value to open up and protect the civic space."

Resident Director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) – Ethiopia, Franklin Oduro (PhD) mentioned that the event is a significant step towards enhancing citizen-parliament engagement in Ethiopia. He underscored that the workshop will catalyze experience sharing between CSOs engaged with parliaments from Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, and Ethiopia through the sharing of best practices.