High-Level Event Aims to Address Humanitarian Crisis

Apr 15 , 2024


[ssba-buttons]

Development partners and government officials are expected to discuss improved humanitarian responses at a crucial event in Geneva, Switzerland this week. Co-hosted by the Ethiopian government and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the primary goal is to secure pledges from both development partners and the government, according to officials. Millions face hardship due to conflicts, economic downturns, climate shocks, and disease outbreaks, according to a UN statement. Last year's aid diversion incident eroded donor confidence, calling the need for stronger accountability. Development partners will pledge to increase resources and advocate for sustainable development strategies. Collaboration with humanitarian organisations will be crucial for boosting the impact of aid on vulnerable populations. Partners will urge the government to prioritise emergency funding, implement pro-poor policies, and strengthen accountability measures to prevent future aid diversions. Calls are expected to be made to streamline bureaucracy, ensuring tax exemptions for humanitarian goods, simplified visa/work permit processes, and the safe, voluntary movement of internally displaced persons (IDPs).


Radar

New Directive Tightens Rules for Foreign Employment Agencies

The Ministry of Labour & Skills has issued a directive under the Ethiopian foreign employment framework, setting clear standards for agency size, capital, and operations. Depending on their level, newly established agencies can serve between 10 and over 100 workers a day. Office space requirements range from 100sqm to 700sqm, tied to operational scale. Level-one agencies must hold a paid-up capital of 20 million Br and place a security deposit of 250,000 dollars or its birr equivalent...


Radar

Audit Findings Expose Deepening Gaps in Accountability

A new study reveals that audit irregularities in Ethiopia have continued to rise year after year, driven by weak enforcement and unresolved legacy problems. The finding, commissioned by the Office of the Federal Auditor General (OFAG) and conducted by independent researchers from Addis Abeba University, examined audit reports covering 2009–2023. The study attributes the persistent irregularities to limited accountability, poor follow-up, and reduced audit coverage during political transitio...


Radar

Africa Maritime Conference Sets Sights on Seafaring Innovation

The Ministry of Transport & Logistics has launched the first-ever Africa Maritime Conference, marking a bold move to position landlocked Ethiopia as a continental hub for seafaring innovation at a time of global talent shortages. At a pre-conference briefing, Frans Joubert, CEO of YCF Manning Ltd, underscored Africa's untapped potential in the maritime sector. Of the 1.9 million seafarers worldwide, only four percent are African—despite the continent hosting around 150 maritime academie...