Be it bias, discrimination, invasion of privacy, environmental degradation or loss of jobs,  unchecked deployment of AI poses many risks. This has prompted a range of governance initiatives in Africa. But AI strategies have been the principal means of governance considered by African policy makers. From the first national AI strategy of AI in Mauritius in 2018, over a dozen African states have adopted national AI policies of some sort. At the continental level, the African Union has an AI Strategy as well as African Digital Compact and Africa AI Declaration. An archetypal AI strategy would identify priority sectors where AI would be deployed. As a national policy plan, an AI strategy indicates the priorities and aspirations in achieving certain policy objectives. 

That means an AI strategy is simply a prelude to formal governance instruments such as legislation. This reinforces the recent turn to legislation from AI strategies in several African states. A common thread in recent legislative exercises is that African states tend to pursue the European Union’s approach to AI governance. But the question of whether Africans need esoteric AI legislation to govern AI systems remains. If such legislation is desirable, whether Africa should go down the path of European law is not clear. 

AI legislation may indeed be useful in various ways. At one level, it may regulate the development and use of AI systems that pose risks to individual rights, social cohesion or even national security as well as harnessing benefits of AI. Similar to the European approach, emergent AI bills in Africa ban certain AI systems while putting in place a series of regulatory requirements for others. Legislation can also create new regulatory bodies that oversee AI rules or other pertinent laws such as data protection or cybersecurity law. Kenya’s AI Bill, for instance, institutes the AI Commissioner as well as the AI Advisory Committee as regulators of AI systems in the country.

The question of whether Africa needs AI legislation at this particular moment deserves more critical scrutiny than the current enthusiasm for lawmaking might suggest. AI policies were meant to coordinate AI development at national level. While many countries committed to responsible AI development, many have yet to set up or fund institutions that were to give the strategies meaning. This points to an endemic problem in Africa where many of the challenges are not because of a lack of regulation, but because of lack of implementation. Legislating in this environment risks producing laws that are aspirational in the same way that the strategies before them were aspirational: formally enacted but substantively inert. 

Emerging legislation also seems to be heavily drawn from the European Union, adopting its risk-based approach, regulatory categories and institutional design. This approach is not however new in African states’ attempt to regulate new and emerging technologies. The first generation of data protection and cybercrime laws in Africa drew directly from formative legal instruments in Europe. But rarely have such legal transplanting exercises been informed by or take into account local context, interests and concerns. If Kenya and Ethiopia’s recently unveiled AI bills are any indication, a similar approach of unimaginative legal transplantation is poised to shape the structure of AI regulation in Africa. 

If African states are to introduce AI legislation, it should emerge not from a compulsion to signal regulatory modernity  but from a concrete and honest reckoning with what AI is actually doing on the continent — how it is being deployed by technology companies as well as in public services, who controls the data, who bears the harms, and whose interests existing governance gaps leave unprotected. It means asking why large technology companies,  many of them headquartered in the United States, China, or Europe, are able to collect and process vast amounts of data generated by African users, often under terms of service that most users neither read nor meaningfully consent to, and with little accountability to African regulators. It means asking why AI-powered content moderation systems perform poorly in African languages and local contexts, with real consequences for how information and misinformation spread on the continent. It means asking who benefits when governments deploy AI in social protection, policing, or public administration,  and who bears the risk when those systems get it wrong. 

As the AI hype continues, African states are already deploying AI in different sectors, including in healthcare and tax management. But this occurs in a regulatory vacuum. In the absence of a robust regulatory regime, AI is likely to cause considerable harm to individuals and broadly on societies in the continent. While AI legislation might be  a promising step forward in filling the regulatory void, this effort appears to be restricted only to a few countries whose approach is yet to move past European parameters. Policymakers should rather prioritise pursuing a more considered and contextualised approach to address AI risks meaningfully. Until such time, putting a moratorium on the deployment of high-risk AI systems in sensitive domains such as healthcare should be seriously considered to prevent disastrous outcomes in the years to come. 

 Kinfe Yima (PhD) is a senior lecturer at University of Leeds, School of Law. Grace Mutung’u is a digital policy researcher based in Kenya.

Contributed by Kinfe Yilma (PhD) and Grace Mutung’u

In a holistic sense, political capability in Ethiopia encompasses three fundamental pillars. The first pillar concerns institutional capacity, specifically the ability of institutions such as the Election Board, the judiciary, and the Human Rights Commission to uphold the rule of law and remain free from political partisanship.

​The second pillar, a prerequisite for building political capability is elite consensus. This refers to a minimum level of shared understanding among political forces regarding fundamental national issues, including the constitution, the form of government administration, and national symbols.

​Thirdly, the concept of political capability also involves inclusivity, ensuring the genuine participation of various segments of society and diverse political perspectives in the decision-making process.

​Several obstacles have hindered the growth of Ethiopia’s political capability: and some of them include a Fluctuating Political Space: While there are occasional reform attempts, the “rules of the game” among key political actors remain unclear. Group interests often overshadow the national interest.

​Cycles of Conflict: Unnecessary regional conflicts, often driven by political ego, lead to cycles of violence rather than national capacity building. This is exacerbated by a lack of national conflict management capacity.

​The Role of Intellectuals: Many prominent intellectuals have struggled to move beyond destructive political factionalism.

​Conflicting Historical Narratives: The lack of a shared understanding of past historical events has hindered the construction of a forward-looking “political capability.”

​Deep Examination: Institutions vs. Power

​Historically, Ethiopia has possessed a strong state structure for centuries, yet it has lacked the capability to transform that structure into lasting political stability and consensus.

​The Zero-Sum Game: Because power has traditionally been transferred through force rather than peaceful negotiation, a culture of political consensus has failed to develop. This resulted in “zero-sum” politics, where one side’s win means the other side’s destruction.

​Erosion of Trust: Over the last few decades, the country tried to build modern democratic institutions. However, these institutions often leaned toward loyalty to the ruling party rather than the national interest, eroding public trust in the democratic process.

​Politics over Law: While a legal framework has existed for ages, the political capability to enforce it remains limited. When the rule of law clashes with political interests, politics almost always wins.

​Current Opportunities and the “Middle Way”

​Ethiopia’s greatest challenge is the inability to transform differences (ethnic, religious, and ideological) into national unity. While one side views the “old Ethiopia” as a symbol of oppression, the other sees it as a source of unity and pride.

A “middle way” to reconcile these narratives has yet to mature. ​However, the current era presents a unique opportunity.

​Political Maturity: Peace agreements like the Pretoria Accord, which sought to resolve conflicts through negotiation, signal a beginning of political maturity across all sides.

​National Dialogue: The ongoing National Dialogue, despite its flaws, represents the first historical attempt to resolve fundamental differences through conversation. If successful, it will transition the country into a new chapter of political capability.

​The Synergy: State Building and Nation Building

​Political capability and State Building are inextricably linked. Building a strong state is not just about infrastructure; it is about creating a legal and systemic framework that the public trusts.

​State Building (The Body): Focuses on institutional strength (justice, security, administration). A state is strong when leaders refrain from using institutions for personal or group gain.

​Nation Building (The Soul): Focuses on creating a sense of “one people” among a diverse population. This involves fostering a shared identity through national symbols, values, and social cohesion.

​Key Insight: State building is the “skeleton” of the country, while nation building is its “soul.” Effective national progress is only guaranteed when institutional competence is harmonized with public unity.

​Developing political capability means moving away from the “I win or the country perishes” mentality toward a culture of negotiation and compromise. It is measured not by the strength of individuals, but by the strength of institutions. It means winning with ideas rather than guns. Given Ethiopia’s historical and geopolitical pressures, building this capability is not a luxury—it is a matter of survival.

Muhammed Seid (Amb.) has a diversified work experience in both government and non-governmental organizations. He currently works for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. The views expressed in this article are personal and does not reflect the institution he works at.

Contributed by Muhammed Seid (Amb.)

The award was presented on April 17 during a gala dinner at the MGM National Harbor Hotel and Casino. The chamber said the recognition celebrates “visionary leadership, business excellence and community impact” across the Ethiopian diaspora, citing Solomon’s role in advancing aviation services and training in Ethiopia.

Founded in 2018 by Ethiopian-American business owners, the chamber is a nonprofit that promotes the interests of its members and fosters a networked business community.

“I am very excited to receive the award. I am stunned,” Solomon said, attributing the recognition to his team. “The credit goes to all the staff of Abyssinian Flight Service.”

Established in 1999, Abyssinian Flight Service provides charter aviation services and launched Ethiopia’s first private pilot training school in 2007. The company currently operates a fleet of 12 aircraft, including nine training planes, and has graduated 255 pilots from multiple countries. Some alumni now serve as captains on large commercial aircraft, including with Ethiopian Airlines.

The firm’s operations span tourism, humanitarian missions and mining logistics. It has also supported major infrastructure projects such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and provides air ambulance services.

Solomon said the aviation and tourism sectors are gradually recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly disrupted operations. “We could have been in a much better position had it not been for the painful impacts of the pandemic,” he said.

Despite these challenges, the company has continued to expand its footprint in Ethiopia’s general aviation sector, receiving multiple recognitions this year. It was recently acknowledged by Ethiopian Electric Power for its long-standing air support to the GERD project.

Abyssinian Flight Service has also been involved in emergency response efforts. It participated in search-and-rescue operations following the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash. In November 2025, during an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in southern Ethiopia, the company sponsored a relief flight to Jinka, transporting medical personnel and supplies for the Ethiopian Public Health Institute after transport links were suspended.

The company has also received recognition from government institutions, including a certificate of appreciation from the Ministry of Revenue for tax compliance.

Looking ahead, Solomon expressed optimism about the sector’s growth potential, citing rising demand from tourism, mining and large-scale infrastructure projects. “Ethiopia is a growing economy. There is significant untapped demand for charter aviation services,” he said.

“As a private operator, we have encountered various challenges. Nevertheless, we remain committed to our nation. By overcoming these obstacles, we continue to serve our customers and foster mutual growth,” he stated.

He also pointed to opportunities in aviation training, noting strong global demand for skilled professionals. “Ethiopia can train and supply hundreds of pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians annually,” Solomon said, adding that stronger government support and public-private partnerships are needed to fully realize the sector’s potential.

Kaleyesus Bekele is a prominent aviation journalist

At Addis Ababa Stadium, the successful hosting of the Athletics Grand Prix stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when institutions take responsibility and act with determination.

From the early stages of preparation to the final moments before competition, the effort displayed was clear, focused, and unwavering.

At the center of this success was the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Sport, whose role proved decisive. Faced with the challenge of preparing facilities and ensuring readiness within a limited timeframe, the Ministry responded with action.

From improving essential services to ensuring the stadium environment, met the needs of athletes and spectators, the commitment shown was both visible and impactful.

The Ministry worked with urgency and discipline, demonstrating a level of responsibility that deserves strong recognition.

This was not just administration it was leadership in motion.

The success of the event was also supported by close cooperation with the Ethiopian Athletics Federation.

This collaboration between institutions reflects a shared vision to see Ethiopia not only compete globally, but also host with confidence and pride.

From the historic achievements of Abebe Bikila to the dominance of modern icons like Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, and Tirunesh Dibaba, the nation has long inspired the world.

Hosting the Grand Prix adds a new dimension to that legacy. It shows that Ethiopia is not only the home of champions but also a capable stage for international competition.

What stood out most during this event was the spirit behind it    the willingness to step forward, to organize, and to deliver.

The determination shown by the Ministry and all supporting bodies sends a clear message.

Ethiopia is ready to welcome more international competitions.

It reflects confidence, preparation, and belief in the country’s potential.

Moments like this build trust not only among athletes and officials, but also among citizens who see what is possible when effort meets purpose.

As the final races concluded and the stadium atmosphere settled, what remained was a sense of accomplishment.

This Grand Prix will be remembered as more than an event.

It will be remembered as a moment when dedication turned into delivery when leadership responded with action, and when a nation once again showed its strength through sport.

With this foundation, the future looks promising and with continued commitment, Addis Ababa can confidently look ahead not just as a participant in global athletics, but as a proud and capable host.

Meseret Tadege is a Sports Development Advocate

Contributed by Meseret Tadege

The interview did more than just create apprehension—it reopened deep-seated wounds for those who survived his tenure—a period synonymous with systematic extrajudicial killings and the mass incarceration of innocent civilians. However, the 43-minute segment ultimately served a different purpose: it unmasked a man who is seemingly oblivious to the gravity of his crimes. Rather than offering the remorse or accountability one might expect from a man who has spent years in jail, he instead attempted a clumsy political rebranding, signaling an intent to return to public life without ever acknowledging the blood on his hands.

Abdi Ilay and the TPLF Era

To understand the rise of Abdi Ilay, one must look at the failure of the TPLF-led government to deliver on the promises of genuine ethnic federalism and democratization. When the Somali people felt betrayed by the central government under the EPRDF regime, the resulting civil unrest and armed struggle presented a problem for the government. They didn’t need a statesman; they needed a ruthless enforcer.

 Abdi’s trajectory was not defined by merit, intellectual prowess, or a popular mandate. Instead, he ascended the ranks through the security apparatus, starting as an informant and eventually founding the Liyu Police—a paramilitary force that became his personal instrument of terror. His presidency was not a political appointment in the traditional sense; it was a reward for his willingness to wage a brutal war against his own kinsmen to secure the TPLF’s interests.

The Identity Trap: Weaponizing Patriotism

In the complex landscape of Ethiopian politics, identity and ethnicity are often used as tools for resource allocation and power-sharing. While scholars debate the merits of Primordialism versus Instrumentalism, Abdi’s rhetoric in the interview was far more cynical. By repeatedly asserting that he was “born an Ethiopian from his mother’s womb,” he wasn’t making a philosophical statement—he was using a classic “loyalty test.” By positioning himself as the “ultimate Ethiopian,” he implicitly cast doubt on the loyalty of other Somali-Ethiopians. This is a page taken directly from an apartheid-era playbook: creating a hierarchy of citizenship where his “patriotism” is used as a shield to justify his past atrocities. It is a desperate attempt to appeal to nationalist sentiments at the federal level while alienating the very people he once governed.

A Divided Narrative: The Federal vs. Regional Deception

 A peculiar and dishonest narrative has emerged from his camp, suggesting a rift between the Federal Prosperity Party and the Somali Regional leadership. In his interview, he attempted to praise Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Mayor of Addis Ababa while simultaneously undermining the progress made by the Regional president, Mustafa Omer. This is a transparent attempt at “divide and conquer” politics.

Mustafa is not an independent actor; he is the regional architect of the Prosperity Party’s mission. To suggest that the Federal government’s successes are separate from the Somali Region’s progress is a logical fallacy. Abdi’s attempts to flatter the Prime Minister are particularly galling, as the current federal leadership consists of those who actively dismantled the repressive system he helped build. They are reformers who understand the difference between a genuine leader and a “wolf disguised in a sheep’s clothing.” Somali region witnessed sustainable peace and development progress in the past years since Abdi Ilay was removed from the regional power in 2018.

Conclusion

The interview revealed a man who has learned nothing from his downfall or his time in prison. While he offered a hollow apology to the Oromo people—a calculated political move—he remained deafeningly silent regarding the thousands of Somalis he massacred and the religious sites he desecrated in Jigjiga.

Abdi Ilay remains to be a man whose only legacy is the trail of broken lives he left behind, lost in his own delusions of grandeur, seemingly unaware that the world has moved past his era of darkness. The interview did not signal a comeback; it only confirmed why he must never be allowed near power again.

Ali Abdi is member of the Karamarada Group—a group of Somali Regional State citizens who are interested in promoting democracy and good governance. He can be reached at: karamardagroup@gmail.com

Contributed by Ali Abdi 

  Yet despite these perceptions—and despite having grown up in comfort as a Khartoum boy, unfamiliar with hardship at home—I chose to persevere. I embraced a profession defined by adventure, endurance, and long stretches of remote fieldwork in the middle of nowhere. I pursued geology with dedication and passion, captivated by the beauty hidden within its challenges. Across the diverse landscapes of Sudan, I found satisfaction in the very hard work others dismissed.

Looking back now, nostalgia draws me to those decades spent in the field—years filled with both hardship and joy. I traversed seasonal streams, hilly deserts, tropical forests, and rich savannas across the Sudan. Life in the deserts, especially during winter, was particularly memorable. The cold air would bite at our faces and seep into our limbs during early mornings and long nights, yet there was a quiet beauty in that stark environment.

Even the sparse vegetation held its own fascination. I came to know the trees, shrubs, and grasses that clung to life along hilltops and seasonal watercourses—Salvadora persica, camel’s hay, lavender, Solenostemma argel, drought-resistant grasses, and resilient acacia (talh) trees. There were also the Arad, Doum palm, desert date, sidr (nabk), and Capparis decidua, all thriving against the odds in arid lands.

Traveling across plains and dry valleys in four-wheel-drive vehicles, accompanied by the gentle breeze carrying the scent of wild herbs, was a unique pleasure. It was a hard life, but a deeply rewarding one. I drank water from wells and seasonal pools alongside camels, cattle, goats, and sheep. I witnessed wildlife in its raw form—vultures circling overhead, ostriches racing across the plains, and gazelles of many kinds: Dorcas, Addax, Cuvier’s, and others. There were also wild rabbits and birds such as cranes, bustards, and sandgrouse.

In the tropical forests of South Sudan, the environment shifted dramatically. There, I encountered elephants, predator tracks, and even the skeletal remains of baboons taken by leopards. Our fild work often required security protection—a joint force from military intelligence, national security, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement—shielding us from the lingering dangers of conflict, including remnants of the Ugandan Lord’s Resistance Army, abandoned military trenches, and unexploded ordnance.

I remain deeply indebted to my late uncle, engineer and contractor Abdullah Shaddad, who raised me and taught me to shoot with a light Morris rifle. His guidance proved invaluable in the field. One of the most defining moments of my life occurred in the Blue Nile region. During a trip to inspect artisanal gold mining in Khur Yabus, I was delayed by hunting along the route and camped overnight in the wilderness. That same night, rebels attacked the nearby Abngero village, killing all the civil employees there. Unaware of the tragedy, I resumed my journey the next morning, only to learn of the massacre later. I immediately retreated—first to Ora village, then to Damazin, and eventually northward through Roseires and Al-Daim near the Ethiopian border.

By what I can only describe as divine mercy, I was spared.
In those dense forests, I carried a German Walther pistol for protection, along with hunting rifles—a British double-barrel shotgun, a light Morris rifle, and a modified .30-06 long-range rifle gifted to me by General Duma of the Sudanese Customs Forces. This was in recognition of my work preparing a detailed 1:500,000 navigational map of northern and eastern Sudan to combat smuggling.

I was also accompanied by my loyal Saluki dog, Evas, trained for hunting and gifted to me by a Saudi prince for whom I once worked as a hunting guide in the Red Sea Hills. Among my treasured equipment were magnifying binoculars and a sleeping bag salvaged from a Russian Techno-Export project in the 1970s.

In those years, I delighted in observing falcons and fish-hunting birds, and in hunting gazelles and savanna game such as impalas, kudu, guinea fowl, and wild ducks. Evenings were often spent with fellow geologists gathered around a blazing campfire, sharing stories under a vast, star-filled sky before retiring to simple tents or sleeping out in the open.

That life—marked by hardship, constant movement, and discovery—remains among the finest chapters of my existence. It was, in many ways, far richer than the comfort of office life in cities like Khartoum, Port Sudan, Damazin, or even Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Fieldwork also brought us closer to the diverse communities of Sudan. We lived among nomadic tribes, learning their customs, languages, and ways of life. Many lived simply, tending their herds, their bodies adapted to the environment with minimal clothing or traditional methods of protection against insects.

Those were truly remarkable days. Through all the challenges, I believe that Allah, the Generous and Merciful, watched over us—protecting us as we carried out our work as geologists: adventurers, civil servants, and, in many ways, the salt of the earth.
While traditional forms of slavery may have ended, a different kind persists—the demanding, relentless nature of remote geological work. It calls those willing to leave behind comfort and urban life to labor in distant mountains, deserts, and forests.
Even in the face of danger—from armed groups, unexploded mines, and the unpredictability of nature—we endured. And in that endurance, we found purpose, meaning, and a life worth remembering.

Ibrahim Shaddad is the current director general of the African Minerals and Geosciences Centre (AMGC). He is of an Ethio-Sudanese origin and is a Sudanese diplomat with background in geology and mining.

Contributed by Ibrahim Shaddad

Financial reforms succeed not on paper but in implementation. They rely on accurate financial records, credible reporting, and consistent compliance across thousands of institutions and millions of transactions. At the center of this system are accounting professionals—particularly accounting technicians—who translate rules into daily practice. Without them, even the most well-designed reforms risk falling short.

Ethiopia’s reform agenda places strong emphasis on improving domestic revenue mobilization, broadening the tax base, and enhancing fiscal discipline. However, weak bookkeeping and inadequate financial reporting remain persistent challenges, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises and public entities at decentralized levels. These weaknesses are not primarily the result of unwillingness to comply, but of limited technical capacity. When financial records are incomplete or inaccurate, tax compliance becomes difficult, disputes increase, and enforcement costs rise.

The absence of sufficient, well-trained accounting practitioners directly affects tax administration outcomes. Inconsistent records lead to under-declaration of income, delayed filings, and reliance on estimates rather than evidence. This undermines trust between taxpayers and the tax authority and constrains the government’s ability to mobilize predictable and sustainable revenue. By contrast, a strong accounting workforce enables accurate self-assessment, timely filing, and voluntary compliance—cornerstones of an effective modern tax system.

This capacity gap became especially visible during last year’s national debate on tax compliance between the Revenue Authority and taxpayers. Public discussions, audits, and enforcement measures highlighted deep frustration on both sides: the Authority pointing to widespread under-declaration and poor record-keeping, and taxpayers citing complex requirements, inconsistent assessments, and limited technical support. Beneath the debate lay a shared structural problem—many businesses simply lacked trained accounting professionals capable of maintaining proper books and preparing compliant tax returns.

Without a doubt, this problem applies to the professional at the tax office assessing and/or auditing the tax declarations too. As a result of tax disputes, we have observed thousands of traders surrendering their trading licenses. The debate underscored that enforcement alone cannot substitute for capacity.

The same capacity gap weakens corporate governance and financial sector reform. Financial institutions, regulators, and investors depend on reliable financial information to assess risk and allocate capital. Where accounting standards are poorly applied or financial statements lack credibility, confidence erodes. This will become especially problematic as Ethiopia advances capital market reforms and seeks to attract long-term private investment. Financial infrastructure cannot function without human infrastructure.

Despite this reality, skills development has often been treated as a secondary issue in reform discussions. Infrastructure, laws, and systems receive significant attention, while the professionals responsible for operating them receive far less. Accounting technicians, in particular, remain an overlooked segment of the financial ecosystem, even though they handle the bulk of transaction processing, reporting, and compliance work.

Targeted training and professional qualification programs offer a practical solution to this gap. Structured pathways such as Accounting Technician Qualifications (ATQs) are designed to produce competent, ethical, and workplace-ready professionals. They focus on applied skills in bookkeeping, taxation, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance— areas directly aligned with Ethiopia’s reform priorities. Institutions like HST Skills Academy demonstrate how locally grounded, nationally aligned programs can strengthen reform outcomes at scale.

The benefits of such investment extend well beyond individual careers. Improved accounting capacity supports formalization of businesses, reduces compliance costs, and strengthens trust in public institutions. For government, it enhances revenue collection and reduces reliance on corrective enforcement. For the private sector, it improves access to finance and investment readiness. For the economy as a whole, it supports stability and inclusive growth.

Financial reform is ultimately a human endeavor. Systems do not implement themselves, and regulations do not enforce compliance without capable professionals. Recognizing this reality requires a shift in policy thinking— from seeing accounting as a technical support function to recognizing it as a strategic pillar of reform.

As Ethiopia advances its financial reform agenda, the missing link is clear: investment in accounting skills that translate reform into results. Strengthening the accounting workforce—especially at the technician level— is essential for improving tax compliance, enhancing governance, and sustaining economic transformation. Without capable hands behind the numbers, reform remains aspiration. With them, it becomes impact.

(Gobeze Dessalegn is the Director of HST Learning Solutions and a senior member FCCA of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK, (ACCA). He is also a board member and chairperson of audit, risk & compliance committee for HST Investment Advisory Services PLC.)

Contributed by Gobeze Dessalegn

Financial capability goes beyond technical knowledge. It encompasses the ability to record transactions accurately, interpret financial information, comply with regulations, manage risk, and make informed decisions under pressure. When this capability is widespread, economies absorb shocks more effectively. When it is weak, even well-designed policies struggle to deliver results.

Ethiopia’s recent economic challenges— from inflationary pressures to fiscal constraints— have underscored the importance of sound financial management at all levels. Public institutions require reliable financial data to allocate resources efficiently. Businesses need accurate accounts to survive volatility, access credit, and plan for growth. Households depend on basic financial literacy to manage income and obligations responsibly. At the center of this ecosystem are capable finance and accounting professionals who translate complexity into clarity.

One of the clearest lessons from recent years is that financial fragility often begins with weak financial practices. Poor record-keeping limits access to finance, complicates tax compliance, and undermines policy effectiveness. In contrast, strong financial capability strengthens compliance, reduces uncertainty, and supports confidence— which are key ingredients of resilience in any economy.

As Ethiopia continues structural reforms, the demand for credible financial information is increasing. Tax reforms, public financial management improvements, and capital market development all depend on accurate and timely financial reporting. However, financial capability has not yet been fully integrated into the reform narrative as a strategic enabler. Too often, attention focuses on systems and regulations, while the human capability required to operate them is assumed rather than developed.

Building financial capability requires a deliberate focus on applied skills. Accounting technicians, finance officers, and compliance professionals play a decisive role in day-to-day economic governance. They ensure that transactions are properly recorded, obligations are met, and decisions are evidence-based. Strengthening this layer of the workforce improves not only organizational performance but also national economic stability.

Investment in structured, practice-oriented training pathways is therefore essential. Programs such as Accounting Technician Qualifications and targeted financial capability initiatives help build a workforce that is competent, ethical, and adaptable. By embedding taxation, regulatory compliance, digital finance, and professional ethics into training, such programs align human capital development with Ethiopia’s evolving economic needs.

Financial capability also has a powerful equity dimension. Expanding access to quality finance and accounting education beyond major urban centers supports inclusive growth and reduces regional disparities. Small enterprises, cooperatives, and emerging entrepreneurs are better equipped to formalize, comply, and grow when they have access to capable financial practitioners. This, in turn, broadens the tax base and strengthens domestic resource mobilization.

Recommendations and Ways Forward

To position financial capability as a pillar of economic resilience, Ethiopia should consider a coordinated set of actions:

First, financial capability should be explicitly recognized in national economic and financial sector strategies as a core enabler of reform and resilience, not merely a supporting function.

Second, professional training pathways for accounting technicians and finance practitioners should be expanded and aligned with national standards, with strong emphasis on practical skills, ethics, and compliance.

Third, closer collaboration is needed between government institutions, professional bodies, training providers, and the private sector to ensure relevance and scale. Employers should be encouraged to invest in continuous professional development as part of good governance.

Fourth, digital financial reforms should be accompanied by parallel investment in human capability, ensuring that technology enhances, not replaces, sound financial judgment.

Finally, public awareness of financial careers and financial literacy should be strengthened, reinforcing the link between capable financial management and national development.

Economic resilience is not built in moments of crisis— it is prepared in advance through capable institutions and skilled people. For Ethiopia, strengthening financial capability is a strategic investment in stability, trust, and long-term growth. By placing human financial competence at the heart of reform efforts, the country can build an economy that not only grows, but endures.

Gobeze Dessalegn is the Director of HST Consulting PLC and a senior member FCCA of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK, (ACCA). He is also a board member and chairperson of audit, risk & compliance committee for HST Investment Advisory Services PLC.

Contributed by Gobeze Dessalegn

In sub-Saharan Africa, these situations are viewed through a different lens. While some regions experience relatively low levels of TB disease, others face substantial challenges. Several countries in East and Southern Africa—including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa—remain among the high TB-burden settings globally, with significant variation in drug-resistant TB across and within countries.

In many of these settings, sustained transmission places continuous demands on health systems, requiring responses focused on large-scale, ongoing disease control rather than isolated events. An estimated 10.7 million people globally fell ill with TB in 2024, and the disease killed 1.23 million, more than any other infectious disease. It is the leading killer of people living with HIV, and a major cause of deaths related to drug resistance. TB is a known risk in many parts of the world, yet in the U.S. it is relatively rare and is often perceived by the public as a disease of the past.

Our risk of exposure should not depend on something as haphazard as where we are born.

This is the imperative that informs my work as a scientist endeavoring to develop a vaccine for TB. We want to bring locations with a high burden of either drug-resistant or drug-sensitive TB to a point resembling that of San Francisco or Seattle—where the disease is so rare that even a small number of diagnoses is an exceptional event.

TB is often described as a disease strongly associated with poverty. Transmission is facilitated in settings with poor ventilation and close contact, such as underground mines, crowded workplaces, and densely populated urban settlements. Undernutrition—commonly linked to poverty—weakens immune defenses and increases the risk of developing TB disease. The illness can also place a heavy financial burden on households when the primary wage earner becomes sick, further compounding economic hardship and vulnerability.

Ethiopia is a high TB-burden country, and I witnessed the impact of the disease firsthand while living in the community and through my work as a physician and researcher there. I saw how TB affects families and communities, and it struck me deeply as the disease devastated many lives around me. This perspective has motivated me throughout my career. The only current TB vaccine, the BCG vaccine, is an important but imperfect hundred-year-old tool. A review of studies on BCG concluded that while it provides protection to young children from severe forms of TB, it provides limited protection against pulmonary TB in adolescents or adults.

Adolescents and adults bear the greatest burden of pulmonary TB and are the primary drivers of transmission. Preventing TB in these age groups could therefore help protect people of all ages. Widespread use of an effective TB vaccine could also contribute to reducing drug-resistant TB. By lowering the incidence of TB disease, it would reduce the need for antibiotic treatment—a critical step in curbing antimicrobial resistance. 

The World Health Organization estimates that over a 25-year time span, a vaccine with 50 percent efficacy for protecting adolescents and adults could save 8.5 million lives, prevent 76 million new TB cases and save USD 41.5 billion for TB affected households.

A new vaccine, if able to deliver on this goal, could be game changing. But it will only have an impact if it is used by the people who would benefit most from it. The experience of the measles vaccine illustrates this point well. Introduced more than 60 years ago, its success has depended on sustained efforts to ensure widespread use. Today, measles outbreaks still make headlines, but they are small compared with the devastating epidemics seen before vaccination. Over the past 25 years alone, measles vaccination is estimated to have prevented about 59 million deaths.

The TB vaccine candidate that we at the Gates Medical Research Institute are evaluating is among several candidates currently in late phase clinical trials. There has never been a time when the TB vaccine pipeline has shown such promise, bringing us closer than ever to improving the prospects for communities most affected by this disease. If one of these vaccine candidates proves to be effective, it will be essential for governments, global health organizations, and communities to work together to ensure that it reaches those who would benefit most. Broad and equitable access will be critical to reducing the global burden of TB and moving closer to the goal of a world free of TB.

Alemnew Dagnew (MD), is the Head of Vaccines and Biologics Development at the Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI), where he leads the clinical development of the M72 tuberculosis vaccine. 

Contributed by Alemnew Dagnew (MD)

For Ethiopia, where energy access and agricultural productivity remain closely linked, the stakes of this transition are particularly high.

Energy access shapes agricultural productivity, food systems, manufacturing capacity, digital inclusion, and employment. The second Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa reinforced the continent’s determination to shape its own green growth pathway.

The message emerging from Addis was clear: Africa’s climate agenda is inseparable from its economic agenda.

The workforce behind the transition

Globally, women account for only about 32 per cent of the renewable energy workforce, and they remain concentrated largely in non-technical roles. Meanwhile, women make up nearly half of Africa’s agricultural labour force. The sectors most dependent on reliable power, including food production and processing, remain disconnected from the technical workforce powering the transition.

This disconnect has economic consequences.

Solar irrigation systems, mini-grids, cold storage units, and processing equipment do not generate impact simply because they are installed. They generate impact when they are maintained, repaired quickly, and integrated into functioning local markets.

Across Ethiopia, women are already operating at the heart of that technical ecosystem. In the country’s medium-voltage and distribution sectors, women-led enterprises are supervising installations, commissioning transformers, and strengthening electrical infrastructure. Their presence demonstrates a critical reality: the technical talent exists. What is missing is not capability, but the systems, procurement pathways and investment structures needed to scale it.

From climate targets to economic returns

Global climate finance discussions increasingly emphasise the importance of “bankable projects” and long-term returns. More than USD 33 billion has been mobilised globally to advance women’s economic participation, reflecting growing recognition that gender-inclusive investment strengthens markets. Yet the returns on renewable infrastructure depend on local technical ecosystems.

If renewable capacity is tripled but maintenance capacity remains thin, downtime rises. If local enterprises cannot access procurement pathways, scaling slows. If half the talent pool remains underrepresented in technical roles, productivity gains are diluted.

Investing in women’s technical capacity strengthens the performance of renewable systems. It shortens repair cycles. It stabilises agribusiness operations. It keeps skills, income, and employment within domestic economies.

In agribusiness value chains, reliable energy means irrigation during dry seasons, refrigeration for dairy and poultry, milling operations that reduce post-harvest losses, and cold storage that extends shelf life. These are not marginal gains. They shape food security, export competitiveness, and rural incomes.

The energy transition is therefore not only about emissions. It is about efficiency.

Networks as economic infrastructure

Recent policy debates on green industrialisation and domestic value creation highlight a recurring theme: Africa must build internal capability, not simply import infrastructure.

This is where professional networks led by and for women play a catalytic role.

In Ethiopia, women working in the energy sector increasingly rely on structured professional networks to navigate procurement systems, financing pathways, and policy spaces that can otherwise feel closed.

Meron Muktar, who leads a technical enterprise in Ethiopia’s medium-voltage and distribution sector, has seen this firsthand. While her daily work involves supervising installations and commissioning transformers, she is clear that technical expertise alone is not enough to unlock scale.

Networks such as Ethiopian Women in Energy are strengthening mentorship, collaboration, and visibility for women working across the energy value chain. These networks connect engineers, consultants, entrepreneurs, and managers. They facilitate peer learning and create structured pathways into policy engagement and procurement access. The result is not symbolic inclusion. It is an expanding base of technical and commercial capability.

When one woman successfully navigates financing, others gain insight. When technical expertise is amplified collectively, credibility shifts. When women gain access to decision-making spaces, sector governance improves. Skills multiply through networks. Markets expand through collaboration. Economic participation scales beyond individual achievement.

In a continent where 600 million people still lack electricity, such multipliers are strategic.

A strategic imperative

If the coming decade truly delivers a rapid expansion of renewable energy, the question is no longer whether Africa will build new infrastructure. It is whether the continent will also build the workforce capable of sustaining it. Ensuring that women are at the centre of that technical workforce is not simply a matter of representation. It is a strategic investment in the resilience, productivity, and long-term returns of Africa’s energy transition.

Kiber Belay is a Communications Officer at Ethiopian Women in Energy. Filagot Tesfaye is an Energy Consultant at On Energy Consult and Trading.

Contributed by Kiber Belay & Filagot Tesfaye