Issue 180: Audit Woes & Work Hours Outrage

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Ethiopia’s state-led innovation ambitions faced a setback last week as the Ministry of Innovation and Technology grappled with a staggering half-billion-birr budget deficit ($9 million) and allegations of financial mismanagement. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines soars into the spotlight with a landmark $30M agreement to bring an electric air taxi network to Africa.

Our news roundup from the past week also includes France committing 3.5 million euros to bolster Ethiopia’s financial reforms and state-owned enterprises; a UK car rental giant entering the market with eco-friendly fleets; the bad experience of iPhone user in Ethiopia; bankers revolting against Addis Ababa’s “inconsiderate” extended working hours and more. Enjoy!

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The Ministry of Innovation & Technology is under scrutiny after an audit revealed lapses in project management and financial oversight. Read more.

Apple’s strict app policies and Ethiopia’s Android-heavy market mean iPhone users often get a second-class experience. Why do local apps struggle to keep up with iOS? Read more.

Ethiopia’s national carrier became the second airline in the world to enter into an agreement for deployment of an air taxi network through a landmark deal with Archer Aviation. Read more.

The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), in collaboration with global payment giant MasterCard, has introduced both physical and virtual international prepaid cards. Read more.

How can we make mobile money work for everyone? By tailoring services to real user needs! As mobile money adoption grows, user experiences vary widely based on age, gender, location, and education. From someone who hears about it for the first time to a loyal advocate, each journey is unique, bringing different challenges and opportunities.

This key report from AKOFADA provides an in-depth insight into mobile money users’ experiences, and provides key findings and recommendations across different personas that service providers can use to improve their services. Read the Report.

TOYO, a solar solution company, has unveiled ambitious plans to expand its solar cell manufacturing capacity in Ethiopia by an additional two gigawatts (GW), taking its total production capacity to 4GW. Read more.

One of United Kingdom’s biggest car rental companies has partnered with an Ethiopian company to launch an electric, hybrid, and low-CO2-emission vehicle rental business. Read more.

Around 3.5 million euros worth of technical support is promised by France to advance financial sector reform, state-owned enterprises policy reforms, capacity building, and public-private partnership (PPP) regulatory frameworks in Ethiopia. Read more.

In an era where AI is redefining education, Ethiopia faces a critical question: Can technology bridge learning gaps without leaving teachers behind? Read more.

Write For Shega

We're excited to welcome guest contributors to Shega Media! If you have insights on Ethiopia’s startup scene, innovation, SMEs, or economic developments, we want to hear from you. Your expertise can spark discussions, educate readers, and expand your professional reach. Share your insights on Shega.

With the rapid rise of social media marketing, Ethiopia's rich tradition of using folk medicine continues to thrive in modern times. Read more.

A directive from the Addis Ababa City Administration extending banks’ working hours has sparked backlash in the industry, with bankers labeling the move as “pointless and inconsiderate.”Read more.

A self-taught developer has debuted an online auction platform in a bid to expand access to tenders and reduce participation costs. Read more.