Three of the country’s state-owned financial institutions—the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), and the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE) have jointly launched the Financial Sector Strengthening Project (FSSP), a USD700 million initiative financed by the World Bank.

The project’s first disbursement, amounting to USD250 million, was transferred today to the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia , signaling the operational kickoff of the reform agenda.

Announced during the Ethiopia Finance Forum, the FSSP is aimed at enhancing the resilience, inclusiveness, and functionality of Ethiopia’s financial sector. It focuses on regulatory reform, institutional capacity building, and expanding access to finance—particularly for underserved communities and high-impact sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing.