Issue 170: Courts & IMF

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In the past week, Ethiopia saw a mixed bag of developments. The IMF approved a $248 million disbursement under Ethiopia's economic program but told Addis Ababa to phase out credit cap and end fuel subsidies.

Meanwhile, the government mandated charging stations for electric vehicle importers, while digitalization efforts by Ethio Tel spread into court systems.

Our roundup also includes a court ruling that halted Addis Ababa's wall and roof tax hike, potential job cuts at the World Food Program, the growing concern about e-waste, the emergence of a new delivery platform, and a deep dive into the promise and peril of Equb in Ethiopia's financial innovation.

Oh and for those of you celebrating Timket, Happy Epiphany!  

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Ethio telecom and the Amhara Regional State Supreme Court have agreed to implement a Smart Court project in Bahir Dar to modernize court operations using digital technology. Read more.

On Friday, the executive board of the International Monetary Fund approved the second review of Ethiopia's current financing program, the fund said, paving the way for a disbursement of about $250 million. Read more.  

In a world where financial inclusion continues to be a critical issue, innovative solutions sometimes arise from unexpected sources. As global fintech trends shift toward sustainable, savings-focused models, the opportunity to transform Equb into a contemporary financial tool has never been more promising.

However, exploitative practices threaten Equb's integrity, stressing the need for regulation to safeguard participants without stifling innovation. Read more.

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The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has announced that electric vehicle (EV) importers and local assemblers are required to install electric vehicle charging stations before commencing operations. Read more.

Ethiopia generated above 88 million kilograms of e-waste in 2022. Improper disposal and recycling of electronic waste releases 1000 chemicals including neurotoxicants like lead. Oversight remains limited. Read more.

In a setback for the Addis Ababa City Administration, the Federal High Court has ruled against the local government's directive to increase the urban wall and roof tax. Read more.

Turn Plc is flipping the script of the online delivery business model in Ethiopia with a platform that relies on users’ travel routes to deliver items. Read more.

The World Food Program (WFP) Ethiopia office is getting ready to lay off more than a third of its staff amid funding shortfalls. Read more.

A civil engineer has debuted his second online platform, AddisCAD, which targets bottlenecks in the construction industry, this time tackling design hassles. Read more.

The Council of Ministers, in its 41st regular session on Tuesday morning, approved a regulation that dissolves the Public Enterprises Holding and Administration (PEHA) which managed several state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in its two-decade history. Read more.