Ministry Anticipates Positive Response for IFMS

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) is anticipating a positive response from the World Bank (WB) concerning the winner it has selected for the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) project. Money to finance the project will be taken from the 100 million dollar World Bank fund meant for public sector capacity building programmes. Implementation of the first phase of the project will entail some 15 million dollars. The design study and pilot implementation of IFMS was funded by the European Union (EU). The IFMS project consists of three components and the first phase includes five government offices: MoFED, Civil Service College, Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA), Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Health (MoH).  

Authority Decentralises Fine Collection Centre

The Transport Authority of the City Government of Addis Abeba has decentralised the centre where fines from drivers who commit offences is collected from the Authority's head office to sub-city traffic offices. During the present fiscal year Traffic Police have fined over 200,000 drivers. The stated figure has increased by 59pc as compared to last year's while it was reported that the number of road accidents has decreased from that of last year. There were over 8,000 road accidents during the present fiscal year. During the same period last year there were over 9,000 accidents, decreasing by 13.7pc this year.

Ministry to Publish Guidelines for Use in Pastoralist Areas

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) is due to publish new guidelines in a bid to assist the revision or creation of livestock related policies and enhance livestock development in pastoral areas. The "Best-Practice Guidelines" manual is being prepared by the Multi-Stakeholder National Livestock Policy Forum (LPF) under the Ministry. The manual provides an in-depth analysis by the national LPF, which constitutes five working groups: the National Resource Management, Restocking and Market Support, National Resource Management, Restocking, Animal Health and Food Supplementation. The Policy guidelines will officially be published and disseminated by September 2007.

UNWFP Says No Ethiopian Aid blockade

Ethiopia's government is not blocking aid to the remote eastern region, but trade restrictions combined with floods could still trigger a humanitarian crisis there, the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) said last week. A UNWFP spokesperson in Nairobi said the government was not "blocking" aid in the Ogaden because UNWFP was distributing food in three of the region's zones, while assessments had started or were about to start in its other three zones. Restrictions on trade and the movement of aid due to military operations, as well as seasonal floods, rising prices and other factors could cause a humanitarian crisis among some communications, the UNWFP's Peter Smerdon told Reuters.

Over 30,000 Condos Transferred to City Residents

The Addis Abeba City Caretaker Administration Housing Agency said it has so far transferred over 30,000 condominium houses to city residents and an additional 33,000 are currently under construction at various sites of the capital. The Administration handed over some 1,228 houses constructed at four construction sites in Addis Abeba with the assistance of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ). Over 500,000 residents of Addis have registered to be beneficiaries of the low cost housing project and 20,000 citizens were notified by September 2005 following draws that were held at the Addis Abeba City Administration office.

Agency Licenses 768m Br Investment Projects

The Dire Dawa Investment Agency disclosed that it has given investment licenses to 111 projects with an aggregate capital of over 768 million Br during the last budget year. Licenses were also given in the education, health, construction and agriculture sectors. The projects are envisioned to create job opportunities for over 3,000 citizens upon going fully operational. Apart from designating industrial zones and providing various incentives, the Agency has also provided market and other related information to over 100 investors. The budget year's performance exceeded its plan by 48pc and that of the previous year by 581 million Br in terms of capital.

EEPCo Executes 8.4b Br Power Projects

The Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) said that it has undertaken various activities with 8.4 billion Br to improve the country's electric power supply. Sendeku Araya, Corporation public relations head, said the construction of power generation, distribution centres and transmission lines that have been planned as part of the second electricity supply development programme have been accomplished satisfactorily. The Corporation has also managed to extend power services for more than 270,000 new customers in various towns. This has raised the country's electric power coverage from 17pc this year.

Bureau Loans Over 141m Br

The Amhara State Trade and Industry Development Bureau said it has loaned over 141 million Br to sections of the society engaged in micro and small scale enterprises last budget year. Some 51,000 various sections of the society in 12 town administrations and wereda towns have been provided with the loans as per the plan of the State government. Aynalem Belete, Bureau public relation head, said the micro and small scale enterprises have been provided with suitable manufacturing and retailing sites, including sufficient training that will help get access to market opportunity.

Addis Hosting Regional Conference on Business Ethics

The Business Ethics Network of Africa (BEN-Africa) started a three day annual conference in Addis Abeba to address issues of corporate governance, whistle-blowing, integrity, social responsibility, ethics, globalisation and African values in business. Professor Ptietnaude, ethics professor at the Nelson Mandela Business School in South Africa and current president of Ben Africa explained the role of the network in bringing together business people, professionals, academics and government officials to discuss matters of ethics and good governance in Africa.