The Association of Ethiopian Microfinance Institutions (AEMFI) has requested additional time for its member institutions to comply with share registration requirements under Ethiopia’s new capital market framework.
The request was submitted in response to registration obligations introduced under the country’s Capital Market Proclamation and related directives, which require companies with publicly held securities to register them with the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA).
AEMFI officials say many microfinance institutions are still completing the legal and technical preparations necessary to meet the requirements.
Teshome Kebede, Executive Director of AEMFI, told Capital that although the capital market framework applies to all share companies, several microfinance institutions are still finalizing prospectuses and other documentation required for registration.
“Because sufficient preparations had not been completed, we submitted a request for an extension of the deadline,” he said.
According to Teshome, the Association has taken steps to support member institutions through the process. Under its coordination, transaction advisors have been competitively selected and engaged to assist microfinance institutions in preparing the necessary legal and financial documentation.
As an umbrella body representing the sector, AEMFI is also helping institutions work with consultants specializing in capital market readiness to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Several institutions are currently submitting draft documents for review by consulting firms, with the expectation that final submissions will be made to the ECMA once the documentation process is completed.
Under Article 29 of the Public Offering and Trading of Securities Directive (No. 1030/2024), companies with publicly held securities issued before the directive came into force are required to register those securities with the ECMA. The original deadline for registration expired on November 25, 2025.
Earlier this year, the Authority issued a notice warning companies that had not yet completed the registration process to do so within a final grace period, cautioning that further delays could trigger administrative measures.
Meanwhile, AEMFI has also announced preparations for an international conference aimed at discussing the future of microfinance.
The event, titled “Next-Generation Microfinance: Unlocking Opportunities through Innovation, Inclusion, and Robust Financial Services,” will take place from March 24–26, 2026, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference Center in Addis Ababa.
Teshome said the conference will examine how the sector can adapt to a rapidly changing financial environment shaped by digital transformation, climate-related risks, and global economic shifts.
“Over the past decades, microfinance has played a significant role in supporting low-income households, smallholder farmers, women, and youth,” he said. “But the sector now needs to evolve to meet new challenges.”
According to AEMFI, the discussions will focus on how technology and financial innovation can expand access to affordable financial services, particularly for rural communities.
The conference is being organized in collaboration with the European Union and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Policymakers, regulators, researchers, and financial sector leaders are expected to participate in the three-day event, which will address issues such as strengthening agricultural finance and building resilient financial institutions.
“Microfinance is not just about loans,” Teshome said. “It is about creating opportunities and building the capacity of communities.”
