Parliament Swears-In a Lawyer as Electoral Chief

Dec 25 , 2023


The National Election Board of Ethiopia welcomed its new chairperson, Melatworq Hailu, following a parliamentary session that saw her sworn in with hardly any opposition. Born in Gonder, Amhara Regional State, Melatworq's appointment is expected to bring a renewed focus on the integrity and efficacy of the electoral processes where local elections have been absent for five years now. Her dual expertise in law and business administration may well be helpful for her in navigating the complexities of Ethiopia's evolving political landscape. Melatworq steps into a role vacated by Birtukan Midekssa, who resigned five months ago citing health concerns. Her ascension to the chair comes at a critical moment for Ethiopia's political landscape, following a nomination process spearheaded by an eight-person committee and ratified by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD). A seasoned public servant, Melatworq's tenure includes a decade as the legal head of the former Ethiopian Customs & Revenue Authority (ERCA) and directorial positions within the Board itself. Her education is as diverse as her career, studying law, peace and security at the Addis Abeba University; and a business administration postgraduate studies at the Harvard University. She is recognised as one of the founders of the New Generation University College.


Radar

Ethiopias Capital Market Sets Sights on Talent Strategy

A new strategy to strengthen the human capital foundation of Ethiopia's emerging capital market is taking shape. Led by FSD Ethiopia in partnership with iCapital Africa Institute and the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the initiative is focused on building the skills, expertise, and institutional capacity needed to support the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA). The second round of consultations took place on April 23 at Best Western Hotel, drawing key stakeholders including ECMA Director...


Radar

National Bank Upgrades Core Financial System to Global Standard

The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) has officially upgraded the Ethiopian Automated Transfer System (EATS), the country's Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) platform, to align with the ISO 20022 messaging standard, effective March 29, 2025. Handling more than 3.5 million transactions a year worth over five trillion Br, EATS is a critical component of the country's financial ecosystem. It enables real-time, high-value settlements among 35 financial institutions, including commercial banks and m...


Radar

Spice Supply Hits 41,000tns in Nine Months

The South West Ethiopia Coffee, Tea, and Spices Authority has announced that over 41,000tns of spices were supplied to the central market in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, reflecting the region's growing role in the country's spice economy. The region is cultivating spices on more than 90,000 hectares of land, with major contributions coming from turmeric, cardamom, ginger, and black pepper. For the full fiscal year, the authority aims to supply more than 56,000tns of spice...