Frequent power outages and no running water for days are part of normal life in Ethiopia. The state of public transport has worsened in big cities like Addis Ababa while it is nearly non-existent in small towns. Citizens still have to wait in long queues for hours to access public service that does not come cheap anymore.
Iceland has topped the Global Gender Gap Index for the 11th year in a row, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gaps Report published last month. In 2020, the forum surveyed 153 countries. The highest possible score is 1 (total equality) and the lowest score is 0 (total inequality). Economic participation opportunity, educational attainment, health, survival, and political empowerment are factors taken into consideration in calculating the index.
For over half a decade, Ethiopia has been crowned as one of the preferred destinations for foreign direct investment (FDI). Just three years ago, the country was ranked second in Africa. FDI remains a highly politicized concept and contrasts to the reality on the ground. Actual FDI capital inflow represents a small portion of the reported figures of FDI into the country. Even then, both are now in their worst shape, largely because of the political instability in the country and bureaucratic hurdles, among others. EBR’s Ashenafi Endale investigates.
Food insecurity remains a key challenge for Ethiopia. More than eight million people are in need of urgent assistance and 70Pct of the country’s population earns below USD1.9 a day. More than 30,000 children, on average, with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are admitted for treatment every month. Internal conflicts and climatic shocks adversely impact people’s livelihoods, making them unable to meet their basic needs, while exacerbating the food insecurity situation in the country. The failure to transform the agriculture sector, whose contribution to the economy has declined but remains a source of revenue for over three-fourths of the population, has made many food-insecure. EBR’s Ashenafi Endale explores.
As Ethiopia attempts to gain middle-income status by 2025, building an efficient government structure run by accountable and efficient civil servants has become nothing short of vital. The civil service is, however, nowhere near these lofty standards. Inefficiencies of the public service cost the country hugely, resulting in the delay of mega projects that led to the dissatisfaction of the private sector and citizens. As bureaucratic hurdles are stacked denser, doing business has become more difficult. While low wages and benefits are listed as a primary obstacle to public sector efficiency, political involvement of the ruling party in the bureaucracy has had its own shares, among others. EBR’s Kiya Ali explores.
The world is once again in shock with the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, which has killed around 3831 while infecting close to 110,625 people as of March 9, 2020. With the number astonishingly rising every day, confirmed cases of the virus have been reported in around 90 countries, despite travel bans and several other restrictions put to prevent its spread. The outbreak has also disrupted supply chains across the world. Ethiopia is not immune to the problem. Over the past two months, trading businesses are suffering from supply shortages. Construction projects have been halted due to raw material shortages. Hotels are also reporting a decline in occupancy rates as the cancellation of meetings and visits have become common. EBR’s Samson Berhane probes into the matter.
Building a strong labor force without vibrant technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is nothing but impossible. Accepting its importance for the enhancement of the economy, the government has drafted a strategy a decade ago by introducing an outcome-based TVET system, though it is largely supply driven. However, attitudinal problems have discouraged many students from joining TVETs, while graduates of which are unable to match their skills with the demands of the economy. EBR’s Kiya Ali reports.
Andualem Admassie (PhD.) is the Director General of the Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA). Before assuming his current position, he served as Ethio telecom’s CEO from June 2013 to July 2018.
He was also its Chief Internal Audit Officer and Chief Human Resource Officer. Andualem earned his B.Sc and MA degrees in business education and education leadership and management from Addis Ababa University . He did his PhD in Business Administration from Bulacan State University, Philippines.
Andualem has taught in several higher education institutions including at the International Leadership Institute (ILI), Ethiopian Civil Service University, Ethiopian Defense Command, and Addis Ababa University (AAU).
Andualem used to deliver consultancy and training services in collaboration with Crown Agents Advisors to the Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority, Ethiopian Civil Service University, and other top officials and offices.
EBR’s Kiya Ali sat down with him to learn about the current state of higher education in Ethioipa.
Jnderrepresented in Sport Media
With the massive influx of new media houses, comes the need for sports journalists. However, female members of the profession have not grown in similar fashion due to several factors. From specific issues like not being able to enter changing rooms for interviews to stereotypes that a woman’s place is not in stadiums, women are facing challenges to enter and stay in the sports journalism field. The few current actors in the field have a duty to change this, as Abiy Wendifraw explores.
The Masinqo Rockstar
Haddis Alemayehu, better known as Hadinqo, is part of an elite group of masinqo players who have become popular amongst urbanites. With his unique style, Hadinqo has pushed the frontiers of the masinqo further by fusing the traditional with modern music. Hadinqo started playing the traditional single string instrument played by a bow attached on its ends by another string when he was 17. It took him, however, more than a decade of consistent hard work to enjoy the level of recognition he has today. Nowadays, Hadinqo graces the concerts of internationally known Ethiopian musicians such as Mulatu Astatke and Teddy Afro. EBR’s Kiya Ali profiles the 29-year-old Artist.
