When city planners spoke of ‘greening’ the transport system, few imagined it would take such a literal form. The Addis Abeba Light Rail Transit (AALRT), which began operating in 2015 as Sub-Saharan Africa’s first inner-city light rail, now has pillars draped in climbing vines. The line carries the look of both an urban transit corridor and a set from Tarzan, offering commuters a curious blend of connectivity and wilderness.
Month: September 2025
FLOW FIX
The Filwuha River is finally getting the attention it’s been patiently begging for. Its long-overdue facelift promises green, welcoming banks where city dwellers can escape the urban grind, once the dust settles and the construction noise stops auditioning for a rock concert. The river hums along, apparently resigned to sharing the spotlight with jackhammers and muddy boots. This isn’t just a beautification project—it’s an ambitious experiment in turning chaos into calm, and pipelines into Instagram-worthy scenery.
SHINE BREAK
Around Megenagna, Sitting on a massive drainage pipe laid along a rocky, unfinished stretch, young shoe-shine boys find a moment of respite amidst the mud and scattered buckets a small, human pause in the sprawling Addis Abeba Corridor Development Program waitng for their next customer. The infrastructure project, directed towards widening and modernising key arterial roads, has displaced communities and reshaped neighbourhoods, leaving workers, residents, and bystanders negotiating the uneasy interface between progress and daily life.
Ministry Showcases Arada Branch Revenue Gains
Arada District’s Land Development & Administration Branch pulled in over 150 million Br in just 70 days, beating its 90-day target. Most of the revenue came from annual lease collections and service fees. The office also billed 126 property owners for roof and fence valuations, already securing 20 million Br of the expected 46 million Br. Officials issued warnings to 15 allottees slow to start construction and recommended land right revocations in 11 cases. Leaders credited a more efficient workspace and closer stakeholder engagement for the stronger performance.
Ministry Backs Blended Finance for Micro, Small Enterprises
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is partnering with Ministry of Finance to expand financial access for micro and small enterprises through blended finance and digital tools. Off-balance-sheet facilities are designed to attract private investors and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) by reducing risk and improving capital flow. Digital platforms, including mobile money and digital IDs, will lower transaction costs and broaden reach. The initiative supports job creation and inclusive growth, with the Ministry emphasising Medium and Small Enterprises (MSEs’) role in employment. Resources will be mobilised across agriculture, health, education, and finance sectors.
National Electricity Network Set for Upgrade
Ethiopia Electric Utility (EEU) plans to expand the national electricity grid by 8,689 km in the 2026 fiscal year, Yohannes Tonja, head of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, said. The rollout includes 86,789 km of medium-voltage lines, 92,572 km of low-voltage lines, and pre-maintenance on transformers. EEU will also rehabilitate 1,218 km of medium-voltage lines, install 1,893 transformers, and upgrade 308.7 km of low-voltage infrastructure. Operational targets include cutting power interruptions by 30pc, reducing average outage duration by 38pc, and lowering power losses by 10pc. In 2024/25, EEU supplied electricity to manufacturing, data mining, water pumping stations, and railway depots.
Urban Investments Fuel Employment, World Bank
The Urban Institutional & Infrastructure Development Program (UIIDP) created over 1.15 million jobs between 2018 and 2024, the World Bank reported. The program supported 117 cities with infrastructure and institutional investments, benefiting 6.6 million people. Funded with more than 850 million dollars from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), the Ethiopian government, and the French Development Agency, UIIDP financed 2,700 km of roads and 2,700 hectares of serviced land. Of the jobs created, 915,000 were temporary and 237,000 permanent, with women making up 49pc of the workforce. The program also boosted municipal revenue by 262pc, strengthened local governance, and maintained progress during COVID-19 and regional conflicts through flexible funding and remote monitoring.
Abay Bank Partners with Visa to Expand Digital Reach
Abay Bank marked its 15th anniversary with a strategic deal with Visa to accelerate digital payments. The partnership introduces prepaid cards, ATMs, and PoS services, planning to reduce cash dependence and broaden customer access. President Yehuala Gessesse said the move expands global reach, while Visa’s East Africa Country Head, Yared Endale, called it a milestone for financial inclusion. The initiative also supports financial literacy and extends digital finance to underserved communities, moving closer to a cashless economy.
Fintech Milkii Lifts Borrowing Beyond Collateral
Milkii, a digital lending platform rolled out by Oromia Bank with Quantum Technology, has stormed into the fintech scene with over 60,000 users and 140 million Br disbursed in just three months no collateral required. The mobile app packs eight loan products, from daily income credit for youth and small businesses to salary advances, women-focused financing, school fee loans, and even deferred payments for airline tickets and phone bills. By harnessing AI to open access for underserved borrowers, Milkii signals how digital tools are rewriting the playbook on financial inclusion with speed, convenience, and reach.
Freight Operators Win Eased Certification Requirements in Policy Shift
The Ministry of Transport & Logistics has relaxed long-contested rules governing freight transport competence certification. State Minister Denge Boru said the revisions came after repeated consultations with operators and recommendations from a joint committee. The annual requirement for additional trucks has been scrapped, while the maximum trailer age limit was extended from 30 to 50 years. Freight companies welcomed the changes, saying they ease chronic bottlenecks in service delivery. Denge credited operators for their role in national projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and pledged government backing through technology-driven services.
CBE Launches Diaspora Money Transfer Service
The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) has received regulatory approval to operate as an international money transfer agent through licensed intermediaries. The web-based service allows Ethiopians abroad to send funds home via registered agents using a dedicated portal, offering a secure alternative to informal channels.
CBE also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ethiopian Community in Abu Dhabi on August 31, 2025. Signed by President Abie Sano and board chair Abdulnasir Haro, the partnership will promote financial literacy, diaspora banking access, and formal money transfers. Joint initiatives will support low-income community members through housing finance and awareness campaigns, strengthening diaspora engagement to boost country’s economic development.
Holiday Bazzars Reveal a City Split by Price, Policy, and Public Mood
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