There are hints of normalcy emerging as the Endowment Fund for Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT) — a conglomerate encompassing a diverse portfolio of 31 companies — has begun to regain its footing in the sweeping vista of Ethiopia's turbulent northern region. This comes nearly three years after the onset of a civil war that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands, destroyed infrastructure, and disrupted the social fabric.

The resurgence of EFFORT has come in gradual strides, following a string of decisive rulings by judges of the Federal High Court. In the most recent judgment delivered on August 4, presided over by judges Fatuma Aman, Sintayehu Bercha, and Abdu Ibrahim, half a dozen companies and not-for-profit organisations won their autonomy. The landmark ruling permits companies such as Mega Printing Plc, Dejena Chemical Engineering Plc, and Abergele International Livestock Development Plc to access their previously frozen bank accounts, enabling them to regain autonomy from their former caretaker, the board of trustees.

In the wake of the upheaval caused by the war, the Ministry of Justice had assigned the Tigray Development Association (TDA), Tigray Disabled Veterans Association (TDVA), and Relief Society of Tigray (REST) to a board of trustees. The granting of autonomy to these entities marks a significant departure towards normalcy between Addis Abeba and Meqelle.

Atsbaha Aregawi, deputy chairman of the board and one of the 11 founding members of TDVA, spoke of the renewed hope for their members. Established in 1996, the Association aimed at supporting disabled veterans of the civil war fought to topple the military-Marxist regime of Mengistu Hailemariam (Col.), funded by annual donations of up to 40 million Br. The Association's financial lifeline extends beyond grants from local and international sources; it also sustains its operations through real estate construction and revenue from rentals, such as the Yeha Building, built on a prime location on Ras Mekonnen Avenue, opposite the Addis Abeba Stadium.

However, Atsbaha recalled the political turbulence the war brought, resulting in a considerable loss for the Association. Its operations were stymied, leaving its 30,000 members without support during the ensuing siege the Tigray Regional State was under, a circumstance he described as "disheartening."

Several of the companies under EFFORT had their managment transferred to the Commercial Nominees, a state-owned managment firm that paid a monthly one million Birr in fees before reclaiming independence.

Goyetom Yibrah, head of EFFORT’s Investment & Development, disclosed that a committee has been formed to oversee reclaiming the companies` assets and plans to hire an independent auditor.

"Nine out of the 15 companies have submitted reports on the status of movable and immovable assets," he told Fortune.

One such company is Sheba Leathers Industry, a giant of the domestic leather industry that, at its peak, processed 6,000 leathers daily. The factory, nestled in the town of Wukro, 45Km from Meqelle, after it was incorporated with a 94 million Br initial capital. In the two years beginning in 2018, Sheba Leather exported 15,000 pieces of bags to the US and Europe markets.

The war, however, was not kind to Sheba. As Tesfat Fishaye, the deputy manager, bemoaned, the war destroyed over 10,000 export-standard bags, dealing a blow to the company’s operations. However, the full extent of the losses incurred during the war remains unclear, with current estimates in the billions of Birr.