Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) has announced plans to raise a 76 billion birr loan from domestic sources to help cover a significant budget shortfall during the 2025/26 fiscal year. This financing move is part of implementing EEP’s large budget of 251 billion birr, with the majority earmarked for capital projects.

Ashebir Balcha, CEO of EEP, stated that of the total 251 billion birr budget, 178 billion birr (71%) is dedicated to capital expenditures, including ongoing projects (118 billion birr), newly launched initiatives (29 billion birr), reconstruction works (10.4 billion birr), plus spare parts and repair costs.

EEP expects to generate about 420 billion birr in revenue during the fiscal year, from domestic energy sales and export earnings—approximately $138 million. However, this income does not fully cover the financial needs of the enterprise. To bridge the gap, EEP plans to use a mix of its own income, loans from the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, domestic borrowing, and foreign financial support.

The budget breakdown includes 138 billion birr from internal financing, 76 billion birr through domestic loans, 12 billion birr from foreign loans, 22 billion birr via external financing support, and an additional 3 billion birr from the Ministry of Finance and other sources.

In the preceding fiscal year (2024/25), EEP generated 74.05 billion birr in revenue, with power sales accounting for 1.41 billion birr. From a total of 25,180 gigawatt-hours sold, 93% served domestic consumption, and 7% was exported to neighboring countries including Kenya and Djibouti.

Ashebir emphasized that the decision to secure a sizeable domestic loan reflects the government’s dedication to developing the power sector using local financial resources. Successful management of this funding will be critical to completing planned projects and ensuring energy security, which in turn supports Ethiopia’s broader economic growth ambitions.

The African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) is set to convene its 22nd African Good Coffees Summit and Exhibition from February 6 to 8, 2026, at the Addis International Convention Center in Ethiopia, widely regarded as the birthplace of Arabica coffee. The summit will serve as a critical forum to tackle pressing issues hindering Africa from fully capitalizing on its rich coffee heritage.

Industry leaders attending the summit note that, despite providing some of the highest quality coffee to global markets, many African producers are not benefiting equitably from the vast profits generated along the coffee value chain. The Ethiopian Coffee Association underscored that “our producers are far from the advantage of the last cup,” highlighting the significant discrepancy between international coffee prices and the returns earned by farmers.

A central theme emerging from conference discussions is the low added value within the African coffee sector. Most coffee is exported as raw beans, leaving producers largely excluded from lucrative activities such as processing, roasting, and branding. Additionally, African coffees often lack strong, distinctive brands capable of commanding premium prices worldwide. Producers also face challenges from inconsistent production levels and reliance on outdated processing techniques, which further limit income potential.

To address these problems, the summit will focus on enhancing market access, building climate change resilience, and boosting intra-African trade. AFCA, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, is urging all stakeholders—from farmers and exporters to policymakers—to unite in creating a more sustainable, inclusive, and profitable African coffee industry.

By fostering cooperation, knowledge exchange, and investment, the summit aims to transform Africa’s coffee sector “from promising to prosperous.”

A recent United Nations report seeking to improve efficiency and reduce costs has revealed a striking reality: many U.N. reports are barely read. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres briefed member states on Friday about findings from the UN80 reform taskforce, which examined how U.N. staff carry out thousands of mandates from bodies such as the General Assembly and Security Council.

Guterres highlighted the overwhelming volume of work: last year, the U.N. system supported about 27,000 meetings involving 240 bodies, producing some 1,100 reports—an increase of 20% since 1990. “The sheer number of meetings and reports is pushing the system—and all of us—to the breaking point,” he said.

The report shows that only the top 5% of U.N. reports are downloaded over 5,500 times, while one in five reports receives fewer than 1,000 downloads. Moreover, downloading does not guarantee the reports are actually read.

Guterres launched the UN80 taskforce in March 2025 amid a liquidity crisis driven by member states’ delayed or partial payment of dues. Among the taskforce’s recommendations is to hold fewer meetings and produce fewer reports—but with greater focus on meeting mandate requirements effectively.

Reflecting on modern communication challenges, the report captures a central problem: U.N. reports, often written by experts for experts, struggle to engage broader audiences. A TikTok video, for comparison, receives more views in an hour than most U.N. reports get in a year. Guterres and the taskforce urge clearer, more accessible communication to ensure the vital solutions embedded in these reports reach policymakers and publics worldwide.

Ethiopia’s floriculture sector is facing a grave crisis after a severe storm struck the Bishoftu area in Oromia region on August 4, 2025, causing widespread destruction to multiple flower farms and orchards. Heavy snowfall and strong winds completely destroyed greenhouses at two major farms and severely damaged at least eight others, disrupting one of the country’s key export industries.

The storm also cut off electricity to the affected areas, further complicating recovery efforts for the growers. Among the hardest hit is the Joytech Tissue Culture Laboratory, one of Ethiopia’s largest and most advanced facilities, which sustained significant damage, adding to the challenges facing the sector.

Farm operators expressed deep concern over their ability to recover, warning that continued disruption could force them into defaulting on loan repayments and tax obligations, potentially causing long-term financial damage.

Industry experts and producers are calling on the government for immediate and coordinated intervention. Key demands include urgent maintenance and repair work as well as duty exemptions on greenhouse plastics and other essential inputs needed to rebuild infrastructure. They also urged authorities to streamline customs and logistics operations to expedite the entry of critical supplies currently held at the port.

Stakeholders stress that swift government support is vital to stabilize the industry, protect livelihoods, and enable Ethiopia’s floriculture sector to recover from this unprecedented natural setback.