Foundation Pledges to Build Water Wells

Aug 17 , 2019


[ssba-buttons]

SMEC Foundation and the McKendrick Family donated 1.1 million Br to develop four wells in the Gobe District of Ethiopia. The projects will be built in four villages near schools and can provide potable water to 10,000 people. The fund is disbursed to Ethiopia from planned funding of 87,500 dollars in support of in India, Guinea and Bangladesh. SMEC Foundation was established in 2001, and since then it has financed 234 projects worth 1.6 million dollars in different countries. The Foundation provides small-scale grant support to development projects, communities and charities around the world. Its support extends across a range of projects with a particular focus on health, education, environment, community development and emergency relief.  


Radar

Milkii App Disburses 25 Million Br in Collateral-Free Loans in Two Months

Oromia Bank's new collateral-free digital lending app, Milkii, has disbursed 25 million Br in loans without requiring collateral. Of this, 16 million Br has already been repaid, generating 1.4 million Br in revenue within just two months. Developed in partnership with Quantum Technology PLC, the app plans to make lending more accessible and inclusive, aligning with Oromia Bank's contribution to the Digital Ethiopia initiative. According to a press release, Milkii promotes financial inclusi...


Radar

Ethiopia Partners with UK to Ease Shipping Bottlenecks

The Ethiopian Freight Forwarders & Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 27, 2025, at Hilton Hotel Addis Abeba, to address skills gaps, customs delays, and corridor inefficiencies in the freight and logistics sector. The partnership focuses on technical cooperation, training, and regulatory reform. With over 90pc of trade dependent on the Djibouti corridor, rising congestion, customs...


Radar

Education Authority Sanctions Mishqen College for Rule Violations

The Education & Training Authority has issued a decisive directive last week, mandating legal action against Mishqen College for persistently defying regulatory orders and unlawfully continuing to offer higher education services. Mishqen College had previously been licensed to conduct undergraduate distance learning programs across multiple regions from 2019 to 2022. However, after serious regulatory breaches, the institution was ordered to cease all instruction, complete pending academic...