Issue 117: Legislative Debates & Payment Gateways

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Here's your weekly roundup of the latest developments in Ethiopia's innovative ecosystem.

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Concerns Raised Over Ethiopian Communications Authority's Control of Personal Data Amid Legislative DebateHuman rights bodies and media institutions have raised concerns about intentions to grant the Ethiopian Communications Authority near-total control over the regulation over personal data. Read more.

Ethiopian Startups, SMEs Receive $150,000 in Grants Preparing Them for Investment ReadinessThe Innovative Finance Lab (IFL), funded by GIZ, has awarded $150,000 in grants to 30 startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Each grantee received $5,000 to boost their investment readiness by strengthening their institutional capacity. Read More 

SantimPay Surpasses 6 Billion Birr TransactionsSantimPay Financial Technology, which joined Ethiopia’s fintech landscape around a year ago, has announced that the transaction volume on its payment platform has now surpassed six billion birr. Read more.

Waterlife Ethiopia Introduces Sustainable Clean Water Access Through Smart Water KiosksWaterLife Ethiopia, a local company specializing in waterworks, is establishing smart water kiosks in urban and peri-urban areas of Ethiopia, providing access to clean and safe drinking water at an affordable price. Read More 

ArifPay Launches Payment GatewayArifpay Financial Technologies announces the release of its new and enhanced payment system, Arifpay 2.0, which includes an online payment gateway and an upgraded version of its point-of-sale (POS) device. Read More 

Ethiopia to Enforce Mandatory Digital ID Requirement to Access Government ServicesEthiopia is preparing to enforce a mandatory national digital ID requirement to access government services. With nationwide implementation to be carried out in phases across government agencies, the move signals a paradigm shift where citizens without digital IDs will find themselves ineligible for civil services. Read More 

Here is what we've been reading:

Kenyan startups raised the highest amount of funding in Africa in 2023Microsoft tops Apple as the world’s most valuable public companyAmazon, Google, Duolingo cut hundreds of jobs: here are the 2024 tech layoffsIf you are here because someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here to get future newsletters.