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.

Chinese mobile phone manufacturer, TECNO mobile, has unveiled its high-end Phantom V Fold model in Ethiopia in an event held at the science museum.
TECNO’s latest model was exhibited in the presence of representatives from various local industries and sectors, including tech enthusiasts, influencers, and gadget lovers.
The company during the unveiling ceremony marked the move as an important milestone in bringing its innovative new product to one of Africa’s fastest growing economies, with a population of over 110 million and a rapidly growing consumer base.
The tech firm signaled that the development of PHANTOM V Fold reflected TECNO’s intensive efforts to bring desirable, high-end technologies to frontier markets through its PHANTOM sub-brand.
Speaking at the event, Alick Huang, TECNO Mobile Brand Manager Ethiopia, said, “We’re thrilled to be showcasing the Phantom V Fold model in Ethiopia with this event. This is a significant moment for TECNO Mobile and the mobile industry in Africa as a whole.”
“We believe that the Phantom V Fold will offer something truly unique to consumers, and we’re excited to see the reaction to this innovative new product,” Alick added.

As indicated on the event, the Phantom V Fold is the perfect blend of functionality and style, ideal for those looking to make a statement with their mobile device. It boasts a 120 Hz golden-size flagship foldable 7.85-inch LED display with an aerospace-grade hinge for an ultra-flat main screen, an innovative reverse snap structure that significantly improves the phone’s structural stability, a 6.42 – inch cover screen, and an ultra-HD 5-lens photography system that creates an unprecedented image-making experience.
It is also equipped with a powerful Media Tek Dimensity 9000 processor and 256 GB memory capacity + 12GB RAM, ensuring that users can multitask without any lag. In addition, the Phantom V Fold comes with a versatile 5000mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging, enabling users to go all day without worrying about running out of power.
TECNO Mobile has been in the Ethiopian market since 2006, providing smartphones with cutting-edge features tailored.

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, has visited Ethiopia as part of his visit to East and Southern Africa aimed to advocate the effective implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, which aims to halve the number of victims on the road by 2030.
In his three day visit from May 29-31, the special envoy met with senior government officials and representatives of the public, private sector and the civil society with visits made to health and training centers.

According to the World Bank, the mortality rate due to car accident in Ethiopia is 28 per 100,000 inhabitants. The ageing of the vehicle fleet and public transport, false licenses, lack of enforcement of penalties and the lack of seriousness of technical inspections are also major causes of road crashes. Used cars constitute over 85% of the vehicle fleet in Ethiopia, many of which are not equipped with basic safety features. In addition to the human tragedy, road crashes trap countries into a vicious circle of poverty. According to the World Bank, the cost of road crashes represents 8,8% of Ethiopia’s annual GDP.
The purpose of the mission is also said to assess progress after the United Nations Road Safety Performance Reviews (RSPR) of Ethiopia (2020) which are strongly supported by the Special Envoy to assist the government in identifying the most fundamental road safety priority needs and to offer recommendations to strengthen road safety management capacities.
“The majority of road traffic deaths occur in Africa and the first victims are young people. As projections say that by 2050, at least one in every three births will be in Africa, accelerated and strategic action by stakeholders and governments is essential,” cited the Special Envoy.
Globally, Africa accounts for about 25% of the number of road crash victims, while the continent has barely 2% of the world’s vehicle fleet. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected, with a fatality rate of 27/100,000 inhabitants, three times higher than the European average of 9/100,000 while the world average is 18/100,000.
As indicated, the core solutions to address road safety at the country level fall under the safe systems approach, which considers improved management, safer roads, vehicles and road users, as well as better post-crash response.
The Special Envoy is also said to visit Kenya on June 1-5 and Zimbabwe on June 6-8.