In a landmark move to combat gender disparity, Ethiopian logistics regulators and industry leaders have unveiled a transformative initiative to train an additional 100 female professionals. The effort builds on the success of an earlier pioneering program that has already advanced the careers of nearly one hundred women.

The initiative stems from an unprecedented collaboration between the Ethiopian Maritime Authority, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ethiopian Freight Forwarders and Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA). Through this partnership, 97 female university graduates completed the globally recognized FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) diploma program.

At a graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Transport and Logistics Minister Alemu Sime praised the program’s execution, emphasizing the vital role of coordinated efforts in building sector-wide capacity.

EFFSAA President Dawit Woubishet underscored the urgent need for reform, revealing that women occupy fewer than 8% of leadership positions across Ethiopia’s logistics industry. This figure mirrors a broader global pattern—while women make up about 40% of the logistics workforce worldwide, they hold only 8–12% of senior positions, often confined to lower-skilled roles.

“Building on the success of the 97 graduates, we have now formalized an agreement with the regulatory authority, the EMA, to train additional women through this same initiative,” stated Dawit, a leading expert in Ethiopian logistics.

“This initiative to cultivate 100 new female leaders will be instrumental in bridging this profound gap,” he told Capital.

The “Young Ethiopian Women Logistics Programme,” supported by the World Bank and the Trade Logistics Project Office of Ethiopian Maritime Affairs, aims to equip women from diverse academic backgrounds with internationally accredited logistics expertise.

As the only FIATA-certified body in Ethiopia, EFFSAA has trained 450 students this year alone. Dawit noted that this targeted initiative will elevate the association’s reputation while expanding the pool of skilled professionals ready to serve both domestic and international markets.

In a complementary effort, EFFSAA has launched the FIATA Higher Advanced Diploma in Supply Chain Management—the first of its kind in Africa—for a select group of logistics experts. The association is also preparing to host the prestigious FIATA World Congress in 2027, a premier global logistics gathering.

“This dedicated women’s training program is unmatched on the continent and represents a significant milestone for FIATA as a global institution,” Dawit affirmed.

The initiative marks a strategic step toward empowering women and strengthening Ethiopia’s logistics sector through inclusive leadership and world-class professional development.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) will hold its fifth meeting in the coming days. Financial analysts expect minimal changes to the current monetary policy, despite recent improvements in the country’s foreign exchange reserves, which now cover approximately 2.8 months of imports.

This upcoming meeting follows a prior session in which the committee chose not to fully lift the credit growth cap, a measure initially indicated for relaxation.

Instead, the cap was raised from 18 percent to 24 percent. Market experts widely anticipate that the MPC will maintain this 24 percent credit ceiling in the upcoming meeting.

In a recent public address, NBE Governor Eyob Tekalegn reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to a tight monetary policy aimed at curbing inflation, which was recorded at 10.9 percent in November. The goal is to bring inflation down to a single-digit target within the current fiscal year. “We will continue to pursue the goal of achieving a single-digit inflation rate,” Governor Eyob stated.

A notable policy shift occurred in June when the MPC eliminated the mandatory requirement for banks to purchase bonds equal to 20 percent of every loan disbursement.

While this change has improved liquidity in the banking sector, analysts point out that the ongoing credit cap still encourages banks to seek alternative investments, such as government securities.

Data shows increased activity in the money market since the bond purchase rule was lifted, with both Open Market Operation (OMO) volumes and Treasury bill (T-bill) auctions experiencing significantly higher demand, leading to recent T-bill auctions being oversubscribed.

Given the declining trend in inflation and strong demand for government securities, some analysts suggest that the MPC may consider revising the National Bank Rate (NBR), currently set at 15 percent.

They argue that the high cost of borrowing, acknowledged by the government, indicates a potential need for a policy rate adjustment to stimulate credit flow.

Governor Eyob presented an optimistic view of macroeconomic stability, noting a positive current and capital account balance during the first five months of the fiscal year.

He announced that the NBE’s international reserves have already exceeded projections, reaching 2.8 months of import cover—a target originally set for the next 18 months.

This performance surpasses the benchmarks established in the 2024/25 macroeconomic reform program, which aimed for 2 months by the end of the current fiscal year.

The Governor attributed this reserve buildup to successful economic reforms, a significant rise in export earnings—particularly from gold—and strict measures against illegal remittance activities.

He urged banks to participate judiciously in the bi-weekly foreign currency auctions, aligning their bids with actual payment needs based on a published three-month schedule, and to adapt their foreign currency management practices according to new capital adequacy directives.

In a forward-looking statement, Governor Eyob hinted at potential government measures to incentivize the repatriation of foreign currency held abroad, signaling a policy shift aimed at building public confidence and attracting inflows.

Experts have indicated to Capital that the upcoming MPC decision is anticipated against a backdrop of improved external reserves and moderating inflation, yet persistent constraints on private sector credit growth.

Experts are raising alarm over Ethiopia’s urban land governance practices, warning that the current system—where more than 90 percent of city land is allocated administratively—is creating a deep equity crisis that threatens access to land for low- and middle-income citizens.

Despite rapid city growth and large-scale infrastructure developments, researchers say the imbalance between administrative allocation and open auctions has frozen the land market and distorted affordability.

During the 3rd Ethiopian Land Day Forum organized by Land for Life Ethiopia, academics and policymakers warned that Ethiopia’s land leasing system is overly dominated by direct government allocation to large industrial, institutional, and housing projects.

“Between 90 and 95 percent of urban land is pre-booked for industrial or institutional use,” a representative from Bahir Dar University’s Institute of Land Policy and Governance said. “This leaves barely 5 to 10 percent for competitive auctions, inflating prices and shutting out ordinary citizens.”

Experts argue that this system fosters a speculative market dominated by brokers and politically connected investors while depriving civil servants and small business owners of viable access to affordable land.

Forum participants also highlighted the social cost of rapid urban expansion. When rural land is reclassified for urban use, farmers are often compensated based on agricultural value rather than urban market prices, deepening income inequality.

Musa, a representative from the Benishangul-Gumuz Land and Investment Bureau, described the scenario vividly, “An uneducated farmer who once managed two hectares suddenly receives 200 square meters of living space and is called a ‘city dweller,’” he said. “Without income or urban job skills, many end up selling their small plots and fall into poverty.”

Scholars emphasized governance fragmentation as a core problem, noting the absence of a centralized body overseeing land administration nationwide. They urged the government to establish a National Land Commission or an independent Ministry of Land to harmonize rural and urban land management.

“Land is a shared national wealth,” one expert noted. “Allowing it to be administered by multiple bodies has hampered rural-urban connectivity and deepened inequality.”

Participants also questioned whether Ethiopia’s push for “smart city” development—especially through corridor transformation projects in Addis Ababa and regional capitals—adequately protects the rights of low-income residents in older and informal settlements.

“The pursuit of beauty and investment is displacing the poor,” a participant said. “We are creating glittering corridors where the poor cannot afford to live.”

Melesse Damtie, Chairperson of Land for Life Ethiopia, said the forum underscored the need for inclusive reform, “This event reaffirms our commitment to building sustainable and equitable land governance systems that safeguard community rights and improve livelihoods,” he stated.

Experts also linked effective land management to broader food system resilience, arguing that equitable land laws are central to agricultural productivity, sustainability, and food security.

According to Bizualem Admassie, CEO of Urban Land Administration at the Ministry of Urban Planning and Infrastructure, strategic investment in agriculture—through research, infrastructure, and private partnerships—can enhance productivity and stabilize food access.

Speakers further highlighted the plight of pastoralist communities, whose mobility and traditional grazing rights are under pressure from land privatization and commercialization. Although Ethiopia’s constitution recognizes pastoral land rights, experts said these protections are rarely implemented.

They urged a shift toward Participatory Rangeland Management, integrating community knowledge systems and legal frameworks to ensure sustainable land use and animal movement rights.

Flipper International School, one of Ethiopia’s private schools, is embroiled in a deepening labour dispute that parents and staff say is undermining educational standards and threatening the future of at least one campus. The standoff pits school management against a teachers’ trade union at a time when the South Africa‑based ADvTECH Group has just completed a full acquisition of the five‑campus institution for USD 7.5 million.

The school, which serves more than 3,500 students across five branches in Addis Ababa, has been gripped for months by tensions over pay, workload and working conditions. Teachers accuse management of ignoring their demands for meaningful cost‑of‑living adjustments despite steep fee hikes charged to parents this academic year. Several parents told Capital that a mood of “malicious obedience” now prevails on campus, with teachers “heartbroken” and demoralised, showing up physically but no longer teaching with commitment.

Union representatives say the dispute began over salary levels and rising workloads but has since escalated into a broader confrontation over respect for teachers’ rights and the quality of education children receive. They point to what they describe as a stark gap between the school’s high income and the relatively low wages paid to teaching staff, arguing that many are struggling to cope with Ethiopia’s soaring cost of living. Parents report that fees have risen by up to 100 percent for some returning families under a so‑called “fee balancing” exercise, pushing semester payments above 60,000 birr in many cases.

Despite this, management has rejected repeated union requests for more substantial pay rises and cost‑of‑living compensation, citing affordability constraints. “The school’s approach is a common act of profiteering to change human dignity with money,” one parent, who requested anonymity, told Capital. “The increase given to teachers when they demand a salary adjustment is very minimal and contemptuous,” the parent added, accusing the administration of prioritising profit over staff welfare.

Tensions peaked in early December when the union prepared to launch a strike, prompting the involvement of security forces and education officials. Under pressure from government bodies, the two sides agreed to suspend strike action and keep the school open on December 6, 2025, citing the broader national situation. However, in follow‑up talks on December 11, management again rejected key salary demands, leaving the core dispute unresolved and morale badly damaged.

Parents say the impact is already visible in classrooms. Reports of teachers being “forced to appear happy” while their grievances remain unaddressed have fuelled fears over learning outcomes. “A broken‑heart teacher can’t teach,” one parent said. “There are situations in which two or three sessions a day are not worthy of a teacher. Our faith in management has been lost.”

Alongside the labour dispute, growing class sizes and facility changes are reinforcing concerns about educational quality. Classrooms that previously held 20–25 pupils now reportedly accommodate 33–35 students, while science labs and libraries are said to be converted into ordinary classrooms to absorb enrolment. Parents also question the rapid opening of new branches, such as the Lancia campus, which they argue were launched without adequate infrastructure or staffing, stretching resources thin.

The Lancia branch faces an additional challenge: an impending forced closure due to land issues. According to General Manager Getaneh Asfaw, the campus sits on leasehold land earmarked by the Addis Ababa City Administration’s Bureau of Land Development and Administration to be handed over to the Oromia Police Headquarters. The school has been allowed to continue operating at the site until the 2025/26 academic year, after which it must vacate. Management says it has yet to secure an alternative location that meets safety and licensing standards, deepening uncertainty for parents and students at that branch.

Parents have also criticised the response of government regulators, including the Education and Training Authority and the Ministry of Education. They argue that official intervention has focused narrowly on whether the school remains open or closed, rather than addressing underlying issues of academic quality and labour rights.

In a response to Capital, Getaneh defended the school’s handling of the dispute, saying management “respects the role of all our employees and their unions” and has implemented wage increases in line with an approved pay equalisation plan. “The union has asked for more than what was given,” he said, adding that “teaching and assessments are ongoing, and we are focused on protecting students’ learning time. We are working with the community to develop a program to revitalise the students’ feelings.”

The controversy comes barely a year after ADvTECH, a major South African private education group, acquired 100 percent of Flipper International School for USD 7.5 million, adding the five Addis Ababa campuses and roughly 3,000–3,500 students to its African portfolio. The deal was touted as a strategic expansion into one of the continent’s fastest‑growing cities, with Flipper praised for its academic record and capacity of over 3,500 learners.