Despite a surge in demand for skilled professionals across Ethiopia’s rapidly expanding financial sector, leading training provider Bruh Finance is grappling with significant barriers as it works to equip the workforce for a more competitive market.
The liberalization of Ethiopia’s financial industry and the entry of international players have heightened the need for qualified talent, particularly in insurance, banking, and capital markets. However, sector leaders warn that the supply of skilled professionals is not keeping pace with demand, threatening the sector’s ability to compete globally.
Bruh Finance, a key institution in Ethiopia’s financial training landscape, has made notable strides. In partnership with the Ethiopian Insurers Association and international bodies such as the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), Bruh Finance has trained hundreds of professionals. Over 70 insurance workers recently completed a year-long CII certification, and a new diploma program is underway for 50 more, aimed at bridging the skills gap and meeting international standards.
“Our programs play a vital role in enhancing knowledge and raising industry standards,” said Getachew Beshawred, CEO of Bruh Finance. He emphasized that these initiatives are crucial as Ethiopia’s financial sector faces unprecedented competition and technological change.
Bruh Finance’s curriculum spans insurance, capital markets, asset management, and banking, with graduates moving into senior management, risk, compliance, and claims roles at both private and public institutions. The institution’s integrated approach combines local market understanding with international best practices, offering not just certifications but also board management training, strategy workshops, and executive study trips.
Yet, despite these successes, Bruh Finance and the broader sector face persistent obstacles. Regulatory fragmentation remains a major challenge, with overlapping mandates among agencies such as the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA) and the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) causing uncertainty and delays in training programs. “Slow coordination and regulatory dispersal create uncertainty for training and operational timelines,” Getachew explained.
Another pressing issue is the shortage of qualified local trainers with practical expertise in areas like risk-based monitoring, management audits, and capital capacity modeling. The sector’s reliance on foreign trainers raises costs and limits sustainability. To address this, Bruh Finance is investing in training local trainers and expanding its digital and regional training infrastructure, including new centers in secondary cities like Hawassa.
The challenge is compounded by a lack of long-term workforce investment strategies among many organizations, which often send only a handful of employees for short-term courses rather than adopting comprehensive training plans. In response, Bruh Finance has introduced long-term lesson plans and organizational support models to align training with broader institutional goals.
Looking ahead, Bruh Finance aims to train more than 500 professionals annually, supported by expanded digital classrooms and scholarship partnerships. The institution is also launching Ethiopia’s first specialized training program for accountants in collaboration with the Insurance Association of Ethiopia and the London Institute of Accountants, addressing a critical shortage highlighted by the National Bank’s new guidelines.
As Ethiopia’s financial sector opens to global competition, Bruh Finance’s efforts to build a robust pipeline of skilled professionals are seen as essential for the industry’s modernization and resilience. “We strive to connect Addis Ababa with the rest of the world in everything that helps economic development,” said Getachew, reaffirming Bruh Finance’s commitment to raising standards and supporting Ethiopia’s economic ambitions.
