World Bank, Fed Agree on $715m in Funds to Fight Food Insecurity


World Bank, Fed Agree on $715m in Funds to Fight Food Insecurity

The World Bank Group and the Ministry of Finance have signed an agreement for 715 million dollars to go towards fighting food insecurity. Most of the financing (600 million dollars) is earmarked for the implementation of a Food Systems Resilience Programme. A third of the amount is in the form of grants, while the balance is credit. An additional 115 million dollars is pledged for improving access to financial services and bolstering economic activity in pastoralist areas. The areas targeted are mostly in the country's south and east, where a severe drought has put millions of people at risk of starving. Earlier this month, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned the Horn of Africa could face "unprecedented" levels of food insecurity in 2023. The UN agency said armed conflict, climate change, drought, and supply disruptions brought on by Russia's war in Ukraine bode ill for the region. Two months ago, the World Bank provided the federal government a 300 million dollar grant to help people affected by the armed conflict in the country's north.


Radar

Electricity Bills Get the VAT Jolt

The new Value Added Tax (VAT) has begun implementation on electricity consumption and various service fees affecting customers who use more than 200 kilowatt hours of electricity per month. Based on a directive from the Ministry of Finance, the tax will be applied to the excess amount of electricity consumption above 200 kilowatt hours. The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) began implementing the VAT on bills starting from November though both prepaid and postpaid customers will have to pay V...


Radar

Gadaa Bank Expands Reach, Faces Lending Constraints

Gadaa Bank closed its first full fiscal year of operations with a net profit of 90.2 million Br. The 18-month-old Bank held its annual general assembly at Millenium Hall on Africa Avenue last week where the board announced that during the year, the Bank opened 15 branches and now has 85 operational branches. “Due to recently enacted policy measures on credit by NBE and unmet resource mobilization during the fiscal year, the Bank was unable to make loan disbursements,” stated Wolde...


Radar

Oromia Bank's Branch Expansion Weighs on Profits

Oromia Bank reported a 47pc decline in net profit to take in 840.9 million Br for the past fiscal year. Interest income grew by 21pc to reach 7.19 billion Br while personnel expense grew by 36pc to hit 3.16 billion Br. The opening of 72 new branches, bringing the total to 575, led to a four percent growth of deposits to 56.4 billion Br. The profits are “unsatisfactory against our ambitious moves,” said Assefa Seme (PhD), board chairperson. “The deviation is primarily attributed to our aggr...