Tech Ministry Issues Tender for Lagging National ID Programme


Tech Ministry Issues Tender for Lagging National ID Programme

The Ministry of Innovation & Technology has issued a tender for the procurement of 315 biometric registration kits for a National identification card (ID) Programme initiated more than a decade ago.  Officials are looking to buy fingerprint, iris and document scanners as well as cameras in their bid to register 70 million citizens by the end of 2025. A kit costs between 2,000 and 3,500 dollars.  The tender is under the Ministry's Ethiopian Digital Foundations Project (EDFP), supported in part by 200 million dollars in funding from the World Bank. A National ID Office under the auspices of the Prime Minister's Office, which is in charge of the programme, has struck deals with public and private institutions to speed up registrations and availed its database to its partners.  Among these are financial institutions, including the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), Cooperative Bank of Oromia (CBO), Dashen Bank, Bank of Abyssinia and the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE). Earlier this month, the Ethiopian Postal Service Enterprise jumped on board. Other government institutions, including the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC), have also signed a memorandum of understanding with the ID office.


Radar

Ethiopia Buys Time, Not Relief as Creditors Stall on Debt Write-Off

Ethiopia's official creditors expect to finalise a draft restructuring of the country's debt in the coming months, granting the government more time to repay its obligations while avoiding a direct reduction to the initial debt amount. Ethiopia defaulted on its external debt in December 2023, before its leaders announced a preliminary deal in March with its Official Creditor Committee to reorganise 8.4 billion dollars, an essential step in moving beyond sovereign default. Under the agreement...


Radar

Road Injuries Increase by 35pc, with Pedestrians Most Affected

Addis Abeba's streets continue to present fatal risks for pedestrians, who account for 86pc of all traffic fatalities reported in 2023/24. Megenagna emerged as a particularly hazardous area, logging the highest number of fatalities, including 13 deaths. While the number of pedestrian deaths has dipped slightly, overall injuries have surged by 35pc since 2020/21, with eight out of 10 injuries involving those on foot. The Addis Abeba City Administration revised its 13-year road safety strate...


Radar

Awash Insurance Customer Week Discount

Awash Insurance Company(AIC), serving for over 30 years, gives a 25pc discount on Mortgage Redemption Insurance (MRI), Individual Life Insurance, Education Insurance, Workers' Compensation Insurance, and Fire & Lightning Insurance. This was announced during the celebration of Customer Week at their headquarters, on April 7,2025. Jibat Alemneh, CEO of the company said, Vehicles owners that purchased thier cars with full insurance coverage will receive enhanced benefits at no extra cost at...