Inter Ethiopia, led by CEO Zelalem Nigatu, received a Special Commendation and Trophy at the UNECE PPP and Infrastructure Award 2025. The accolade was presented during the 9th UNECE International Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Forum in Belgrade, Serbia, recognizing the company’s innovative “Refurbishing Solar Systems” project.

The project stood out for its pioneering approach to making clean energy more affordable and accessible, while advancing circular economy principles and environmental sustainability. This recognition marks a significant milestone for Ethiopia’s green technology sector and highlights the nation’s growing influence in sustainable infrastructure development.

Zelalem expressed deep gratitude to the UNECE PPP Secretariat and the international jury for the honor, emphasizing the collective effort of the Inter Ethiopia team and its partners. The award underscores the importance of sustainable PPPs in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially as only 12 percent of the global goals are currently on track.

The Greening Financial Systems Programme was officially launched in Ethiopia today by Ethiopian and international partners at the Ethiopia Finance Forum.

This transformative initiative aims to strengthen the resilience of Ethiopia’s financial sector to climate change by embedding climate risk into regulatory frameworks, advancing climate-related disclosures, and supporting the financing of sustainable projects across the country.

The National Bank of Ethiopia: Driving the green finance agenda

At the heart of this initiative is the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), which is spearheading efforts to integrate climate considerations into the core of the financial sector. Recognizing the growing risks climate change poses to financial stability, the NBE is undertaking a strategic reform to align Ethiopia’s financial system with national climate objectives and international sustainability standards.

Demonstrating its strong institutional commitment, the NBE has established a high-level internal oversight and coordination team to guide the implementation, monitor progress, and ensure effective follow-up of the GFS Programme. This team brings together senior experts from across the Bank to oversee integration of climate risk considerations into supervisory frameworks and to coordinate with stakeholders on the development of green finance tools.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) held a public oral hearing on 14 May 2025 in a case filed by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and its partners, accusing the Ethiopian government of committing “widespread human rights violations” during the Tigray war—violations they allege “have persisted” despite the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) in November 2022. In a statement following the hearing, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and partners described it as “growing international recognition” of what it said were grave violations committed by Ethiopia against civilians, including “mass killings and sexual violence,” as well as forced displacement, famine, and a prolonged communication blackout…The hearing is part of a broader series of international efforts seeking accountability…The complaint echoes findings by the now-dissolved International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE), which, in its final report before its mandate expired in October 2023, documented evidence of “war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on a staggering scale.” (Addis Standard)

The WSIS+20 Africa Regional Review Meeting, held in Cotonou from 14 to 16 May 2025, concluded by adopting the Cotonou Declaration calling for the continuation of the World Summit on the Information Society process, including the Internet Governance Forum and WSIS Forum for the next decade urging a unified African voice for an inclusive digital future. This will reinforce alignment with the Global Digital Compact, enhancing Africa’s leadership in digital governance and ensuring technology serves as a force for socio-economic progress, sustainability, and equity.

The three-day event brought together ministers, parliamentarians, regional and international organizations, civil society, youth representatives, academia, and the private sector to assess progress made since the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and chart a renewed course for Africa’s digital future.

Presiding over the closing ceremony, Mr. Mahougnon KAKPO, representative of the President of the National Assembly of Benin, emphasized the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in bridging the digital divide. “I call for the mobilization and commitment of all stakeholders, governments, parliaments, the private sector, civil society, and international partners to intensify our efforts to ensure universal and affordable access to information and communication technologies,” he stated.

Echoing this call, Mrs. Aurélie Adam Soulé Zoumarou, Minister of Digital Economy and Digitalization of Benin, underscored the continent’s immense potential: “Africa is a young, dynamic, and promising continent. Digital technology is a tremendous opportunity to accelerate its development, transform its economies, and improve the lives of its people. With determination and ambition, we can build an African information society that is a model of inclusion, innovation, and shared prosperity.” (Press release)