Officials Gear Up for Refugee Forum

Oct 28 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

Six pledges were identified at the validation workshop organised by Ethiopian Refugees and Returnees Services (RSS) in Bishoftu (Debrezeit), Oromia Regional State last week to endorse the government's main targets for the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, Switzerland. Transforming selected refugee camps into urban settlements, integrating refugees into the national system and creating enabling environments for refugees through investments were highlighted at the session. Meanwhile, addressing climate change, providing access to lands and irrigation schemes, and enhancing the capacity of the government to provide registration and civil documentation were endorsed. The session was attended by Teyba Hassen, head of RSS, Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen and representatives of the UNHCR and IGAD. Demeke highlighted the need to facilitate the integration of refugees into the national system, noting that Ethiopia remains one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa. According to a UN report, there are currently more than 930,000 refugees and asylum seekers residing in Ethiopia, with most originating from South Sudan, Somalia, and Eritrea. In the past week alone, 39,667 Sudanese and Ethiopian returnees had arrived at the borders of Ethiopia.


Radar

New Directive Hikes Service Fees for Foreign Investors in Free Trade Zones

The Ethiopian Investment Board has issued a new directive revising the service fees from foreign investors payable in dollars to the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), introducing updated rates for both the One Stop Shop and designated Free Trade Zones. The revised directive came into effect this April following its publication on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the EIC. Issued pursuant to Article 23 of the Special Economic Zone Proclamation, the directive outlines charges for...


Radar

City Tables 350B Br Budget Plan for Upcoming Fiscal Year

The City Administration has approved a resolution to submit a proposed budget of 350 billion Br for the 2025/26 fiscal year to the City Council for deliberation. According to the Administration's statement on its official social media page, the draft budget is designed with a central focus on poverty reduction, encompassing targeted subsidies for sustainable development, investment in large-scale job-creating projects, and enhanced service delivery to address the growing demands of the reside...


Radar

Ethiopia, UN Launch Joint Plan to Drive Development Through 2030

The Ethiopian government and the United Nations (UN) have signed a five-year development plan outlining national priorities from 2025 to 2030. Signed on June 20 at the Ministry of Finance, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) with implications that it aligns with Ethiopia's reform goals and the Sustainable Development Agenda. The plan is backed by a projected 6.5 billion dollars, though only 1.5 billion dollars is currently secured. It focuses on closing t...