Additional information about gender quotas

https://www.ndi.org/sites/default/files/leome_report_of_the_june_21_elections_final_final.pdf

Article 54.3 of the Constitution establishes that "Members of the House, on the basis of population and special representation of minority Nationalities and Peoples, shall not exceed 550; of these, minority Nationalities and Peoples shall have at least 20 seats. Particulars shall be determined by law." The quota is for minorities so it is not considered gender quota because it is not focused only in women.

"Several elections were postponed to 2021 in some countries, including Ethiopia due to the COVID-19 pandemic" (IPU 2021). 

"[In 2021 a] total [of] 1,976 women were registered as candidates by political parties and six registered as independents. Most political parties set different qualification requirements for candidates running for HoPR and regional council elections. Consequently, more women candidates were registered for regional council elections (22% as compared to 16% for the HoPR). While women constituted some 42%of the PP candidates overall, most opposition parties reportedly struggled to include women candidates in their lists. Some political parties adopted specific gender policies, however, only 13 parties successfully reached the 20% threshold of registered women candidates to qualify for additional funding. 

In terms of political incentives and funding 'most opposition parties reportedly argued ‘that the received amounts were insufficient to conduct an effective campaign’ and ‘repeatedly complained about delays in the disbursement of these funds’ (International IDEA, 2018).

Some political parties attempted to implement voluntary gender quotas, however they were not always successful: e.g. EZEMA did not reach 20% of women candidates. Some women advanced after their parties joined the ruling PP: e.g. former leader of SEPDM (part of EPRDF)" (IRI-NDI, 2021)

In 2004 EPRF instituted a 30% quota for women, which was met (and exceeded) over the next several elections: 21.4% women in 2005, 27.8% in 2010, and 38.8% in 2015 (Breuning, M., & Okundaye, G. 2021. Half of the Cabinet: Explaining Ethiopia’s Move to Gender Parity in the Government). The current ruling Prosperity Party which was founded in 2019, is the successor of the EPRF and have adopted the same voluntary party quota (CEPPS Gender Assesment Report, 2020).