Blueprint for Safety, Builders Face Tough New Standards

Sep 27 , 2025

Four key institutions in Ethiopia’s construction sector signed an MoU at Skylight Hotel to address chronic safety lapses that cost lives and damage property. The deal brings together the Ethiopian Construction Authority, the Construction Management Institute, the Addis Abeba Construction Permit & Regulation Authority, and the Ethiopian Construction Work Contractors Association. Assistant Director Engineer Abebe Dinku warned that accidents persist despite booming activity, with 24,000 active sites and projects worth over 500 million birr this year. Official data show 142 deaths so far, including 21 women. Thousands of buildings initially failed safety checks, though most improved after training. Authorities pledged tougher enforcement, with fines of 15,000–50,000 birr and prison terms of five to 15 years. Plans include “safety parks” at sites and training 10,000 safety engineers within two years. Directors Tamrat Mulu and Hiwot Samuel stressed the human toll, noting underreported fatalities and urging full compliance. Construction Authority official Mesfin Negewo added that unsafe practices endanger the wider public, calling for stricter rules, multilingual signage, and nationwide action.