High-Level Consultative Workshop Advocates for Investing in Youth to Harness Ethiopia’s Population Dividend

On December 23, 2025, DSW Ethiopia organised a high-level consultative workshop titled “Harnessing Population Dividend by Investing in Youth” at the Parliament venue (Parlama), House of Peoples’ Representatives (HOPR). The event brought together approximately 400 participants, including DSW Ethiopia’s youth champions, members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Planning and Development, researchers from Addis Ababa University, development partners, parliamentary media, and DSW Ethiopia senior management and staff.

The workshop aimed to foster dialogue among parliamentarians and key stakeholders on the importance of youth-centered development and the need for strategic investment to unlock Ethiopia’s demographic potential. The event created a platform to share evidence-based research findings and promote informed policy and programmatic actions that respond to the realities and needs of young people.

The consultative workshop was formally welcomed by the Chairperson of the Women, Social, Health, and Youth and Sport Standing Committee, who highlighted that investing in youth is fundamental to sustainable national development. The event was officially opened by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, who reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to advancing youth-focused policies and strengthening multisectoral collaboration. Key remarks were also delivered by the Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee and the DSW Ethiopia Country Director, emphasizing the importance of coordinated and evidence-driven advocacy to support national development goals.

During the discussions, the House leadership stressed that “youth are not only tomorrow’s hope but the engines of the country’s development”. Researchers from Addis Ababa University presented findings on Ethiopia’s demographic profile, noting that young people constitute nearly 70 percent of the population and underscoring the urgency of deliberate and sustained investment to transform this demographic reality into social and economic progress.

The workshop featured an active plenary discussion jointly moderated by the Deputy Speaker of HOPR and the Chair of the Women, Social, Health, and Youth and Sport Standing Committee. Participants widely acknowledged that youth-related issues are cross-cutting and require the collective engagement of all sectors. The dialogue highlighted the importance of investing in education, health, job creation, and economic empowerment to ensure meaningful youth participation in national development.

The event concluded with strong consensus on the need for multisectoral investment in youth and recognition of DSW Ethiopia’s leadership in advocacy and awareness creation. The Deputy Speaker commended the initiative and emphasized the importance of cascading similar engagements to regional councils, assuring support to scale up such efforts. Parliamentary media coverage throughout the event ensured broader public visibility and dissemination of key messages.