Tripartite Agreement Offers a Bridge to Basic Needs for Refugees

Oct 7 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

A data-sharing agreement that aims to assist refugees in easily accessing basic services such as health insurance, education, and banking was signed between officials of the National ID program, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Ethiopian Refugees & Returnees Services (RRS) last week. Yodahe Zemichael, executive director of the National ID program, Teyiba Hassen, director general of the Services, and Andrew Mbogori, UN refugee representative to Ethiopia, inked the agreement at Services headquarters. At the signing ceremony, Teybia reckoned that the agreement is a testimony towards a better protection scheme for refugees. There are over 930,000 refugees and asylum seekers residing in Ethiopia, originating from South Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea, according to a report by the UN Refugee Agency.


Radar

Somali Region Advances Budget Independence as Revenues Rise

Somali Regional State is moving closer to fiscal independence, with nearly half its budget now funded locally. Officials point to rising agricultural output and stronger tax enforcement as key drivers behind growing revenues. The region plans to cover 32.5 billion Br from its own resources in the upcoming fiscal year. Communication Head Mohammed Abdi credited last year's tax collection of 18 billion Br, exceeding the 17 billion Br target, to agriculture, khat, and other taxable goods. The reg...


Radar

Environmental Protection Authority Shuts Down Polluters

Addis Abeba's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has taken enforcement action against 3,249 manufacturers and service providers found violating environmental standards in the 2024/25 fiscal year. The violations, ranging from air and noise pollution to improper waste disposal, were identified during inspections of 14,872 businesses citywide. Penalties included warnings and closures, with shutdown orders issued to six plastic factories, 23 block factories, a soft paper plant, 102 nightclu...


Radar

Ministry Mandates Full Electronic Clearance for Top Taxpayers

Taxpayers under the Ministry of Revenues' Medium No. 1 branch will have to ditch paper filings and switch entirely to the e-Clearance system for non-audited services starting August 1, 2025. The mandate, routed through the Ministry's e-filing portal, is pitched as part of a broader push to modernise tax administration and advance the government's digital agenda. Officials say the platform lets users process clearance requests remotely via the Fayda national ID, cutting out manual paperwork. A...