Recent series of global summits on water will provide instrumental input for the upcoming national Multi Stakeholders Forum (MSF) that will be held towards the end of this month, experts opine.
The reflective success elements drawn from the UN 2023 Water Conference and All System Connect (ASC) Symposium, which this year were cited as fruitful, have been stated as a good drawing board for Ethiopia to propel its water and WASH sector development.
In a workshop held on Friday June 2, which reflected on the outcomes of the two international events, which kicked off late March in New York and early May in The Hague, it has been noted that Ethiopia took several lessons whilst also getting an opportunity as a nation to disseminate its position and interest.

Abera Endeshaw, Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE) said that the outcome of the two international events and the reflection workshop on post UN2023 Water Conference and ASC Symposium is a key component for the upcoming MSF, the biggest national water event that will gather government, partners and private stakeholders at the end of June.
As he explains, there were gaps faced with regards to disseminating Ethiopia’s side of the water issues like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) at the international stage, “It can be recalled that the hydropower project of GERD was tabled at the Security Council like an issue of nuclear war. We have limitations on public or political diplomacy and related areas but such international events provide good opportunities for us to show our concern.”
He stressed that the COP27 event, which was held at Sharm El-Sheikh, as well as the latest UN2023 Water Conference held from March 22-24 at UN Head Quarter were good opportunities for Ethiopia to state its position, directly from the horse’s mouth to its relevant partners.
“For instance at the ASC and the UN conference, we had several bilateral and multilateral meetings that created conducive environments to get visibility as well as in mobilizing resources,” he added.
At the UN conference, the head of the delegation, Habtamu Itefa, MoWE, addressed issues pertinent to Ethiopia including the climate change effect and prolonged drought existence, multi sectorial coordination platforms, the Green Legacy Initiative and its impact on decarburization, and regional cooperation and integration for mutual benefits on trans-boundary water resource management.
At the conference, Ethiopia also got a chance to be part of an indoor side event on climate resilient ground water as a catalyst for Sustainable Development Goals in Africa’s Borderlands.
“We have gained valuable lessons on who is doing what and the positive outcomes that Ethiopia can adopt. Our learning curve has expanded exponentially and this will be integral to our future successes and implementations process,” the Senior Advisor explained.
“Regarding funds, we have signed agreements with bilateral and multilateral partners to support the water sector developments and we have also been able to return on truck deals that were suspended,” he added.
At the workshop those who attended the two international water and WASH conferences added that ample preparation at least for one year was crucial to place the nation in a good position on such kind of global events.

Experts underline the necessity of comprehensive consumer protection regulations and robust institutions for the success of government’s ambition of a sturdy digital economy.
On June 1, FSD Ethiopia held a knowledge series on consumer protection with practitioners in digital finance, regulation, and service providers who discussed policy frameworks, dispute resolution, and fraud prevention systems needed in digital finance.
“There are several gaps identified in Ethiopian consumer protection including limitation in scope as it only covers goods and services traded for money, leaving out bartered goods and services. There is also lack of resources and expertise in enforcing consumer protection laws in Ethiopia, which results in low efficacy,” highlighted MesfinTafesse, CEO of MesfinTafesse and Associates Law Office while speaking at the event.
Mesfin also indicated that consumer protection law was an important area of law that aims to protect the rights of consumers and ensure that they are not mistreated or deceived by businesses.
In retrospect, Ethiopia has a Consumer Protection Proclamation that was enacted in 2013. The law was designed to protect consumers’ rights, ensure fair competition, and prevent deceptive business practices. The proclamation includes provisions such as requirements for product labeling, protections against misleading advertising, regulations for product safety standards, and procedures for consumer complaints and remedies. However, the implementation of the law does not provide enough level of protection for consumers in the country.
“In Ethiopia, there are several laws and regulations that aim to protect consumers, including the Ethiopian Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Proclamation, which was enacted in 2018. But they lack integration,” stated Mesfin.
As he explains, inadequate redress mechanisms, weakness in product liability, and incomplete disclosure are some of the gaps of consumer protection law when it comes to practice.
In similar lines, the country also established an independent trade competition and Consumer Protection Authority to oversee and enforce consumer protection laws following the ratification of the consumer protection law
However, Proclamation No. 1263/2021, transfers the powers and liabilities of the TCCPA to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration. The TCCPA in practice, ceased to be an independent authority, and has replaced its name with that of the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration.
To this end, in the event, Mesfin described this as a lack of strong institution with regards to identifiable challenges plaguing the rights of consumers.
“Consumer protection in the digital economy refers to the measures in place to ensure that consumers are protected while buying goods and services online. This includes; laws, regulations, and policies that are designed to safeguard consumers’ interests, prevent fraudulent practices, and preserve their privacy and data security,” elaborated Wangombe Kariuki, former Director General of Kenya competition commission whilst speaking at the event.

“As our lives become increasingly digital and online transactions become more common, consumer protection in the digital economy is becoming even more important. It is therefore essential for individuals, businesses, and policymakers to work together to create a safe, secure, and fair digital marketplace,” he sensitized.
As indicated in the series, some ways in which consumer protection is ensured in the digital economy include; having secure payment platforms, clearly stated terms and conditions, transparent pricing, refund policies, and protection against identity theft and fraud.
Experts suggested for government regulatory bodies and watchdog organizations to also play a key role in protecting consumers by monitoring digital commerce practices and in ensuring that they comply with relevant laws and regulations.
“The digital economy is an increasingly important part of the global economy, and similarly, in Ethiopia, the government is working towards developing a digital economy. This includes the promotion of e-commerce and online transactions, and the establishment of regulatory frameworks to support digital businesses,” stated Muhidin Shifa, Principal Financial Inclusion, Consumer Protection and Financial Education Officer at the National Bank of Ethiopia.
“It is worth noting that the Ethiopian Government is taking steps to address these gaps. Additionally, there are efforts to promote cybersecurity and protect consumers from fraud and other digital crimes as Ethiopia is still developing its digital economy and consumer protection laws,” Muhidin elaborated on steps taken by government.
As indicated on the stage, in terms of consumer protection in the context of the digital economy, the Ethiopian government has to make efforts to protect consumers by requiring e-commerce businesses to provide clear information about their products and services, as well as their policies on returns, refunds, and warranties.