EDITION
HOT SELLER THIS WEEK
- Ethiopia’s Development Bank and KfW-backed agricultural equipment procurement, published on 5 November, includes training and commissioning alongside equipment supply, creating demand for technical training and capacity-building services. No contract value was disclosed. HPC can support training partnerships, technical expertise and institutional programme development.
- Dire Dawa’s Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project invited consultants for the detailed design of a 40-hectare groundwater irrigation scheme, including solar pumping, climate-risk assessment and environmental safeguards. The notice was published on 2 November, with no consultancy fee disclosed. HPC can support sustainability planning, environmental assessment and project development.
- On 5 November, Ethiopia reported that rebasing had increased the estimated size of its 2024/25 economy by 59.2% to $201.42 billion, with a 2025/26 estimate of $210.7 billion. These are revised national economic estimates, not new investment contracts. HPC can support market analysis, financial research and investment opportunity assessments.
- On 2 November, a World Bank-financed regional project invited bids for construction of the Adikas Human Health Center in West Omo, with a tender-document fee of ETB 2,000 and bid security of ETB 600,000. The construction contract value was not disclosed. HPC can support public-sector procurement research, bid preparation and project advisory services.
- The South Western Ethiopia Regional Project Coordination Unit published a tender on 2 November for construction of the Adikas Human Health Center in Maji Woreda. The bid deadline is 30 November 2026, while the project value has not been disclosed. HPC can support healthcare infrastructure planning, supplier sourcing and procurement coordination.
- Recent project opportunities include consultancy work for irrigation design and agricultural investment support, requiring expertise in engineering, finance, environmental assessment and business development. No individual recruitment salary or consultancy contract value was disclosed. HPC can support specialist sourcing, technical recruitment and workforce planning for project teams.
- Published on 5 November, the Development Bank of Ethiopia’s KfW-financed procurement seeks tractors, combine harvesters and related agricultural equipment, with delivery, training and commissioning included. The tender’s contract value was not disclosed, and bids are due on 5 January 2027. HPC can support machinery sourcing, supplier partnerships and procurement preparation.
- On 5 November, Ethiopia and China signed a $15 million grant for spare parts, railway equipment, track components and technical training for the Ethio-Djibouti Railway. The funding is a grant, not a loan or a newly awarded construction contract. HPC can support infrastructure suppliers, equipment sourcing and technical project partnerships.
- The 2 November irrigation consultancy notice requires environmental and social assessments, climate-risk analysis and compliance with World Bank and IFAD safeguards. The consultancy fee was not disclosed. HPC can support regulatory research, environmental compliance coordination and preparation of project documentation.
- Ethiopia’s revised 2024/25 GDP estimate reached $201.42 billion following a 59.2% increase from the previous calculation, according to information reported on 5 November. No merger, acquisition or transaction value was announced in this period. HPC can support financial due diligence, market-entry research and corporate investment assessments.
- The Sidama Agricultural Investment Forum, held in Hawassa on 7–8 November with the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO, focused on agricultural value chains, market linkages and access to finance. No total investment commitment was disclosed. HPC can support sector research, market intelligence and investment opportunity analysis.
- The Sidama Agricultural Investment Forum on 7–8 November brought together stakeholders to discuss agricultural investment, value chains and market access. No event budget or marketing contract value was publicly disclosed. HPC can support corporate communications, stakeholder engagement and targeted promotion for investment-focused organisations.
- A World Bank-financed tender published on 2 November invited contractors to bid for construction of the Adikas Human Health Center in West Omo. The tender requires ETB 600,000 in bid security, while the construction contract value remains undisclosed. HPC can support contractor sourcing, tender preparation and construction-sector partnerships.
- The Ethiopia SunGold Project issued an RFP for business development services to mobilise capital for sunflower-sector businesses, with proposals due on 16 November 2026. The assignment is performance-based and may run for up to 24 months; no contract budget was disclosed. HPC can support agribusiness connections, investment research and capital-mobilisation partnerships.
- Ethiopia and EIB Global discussed an €80 million financing component for a renewable energy and digitalisation programme, reported on 2 November. The amount remains under discussion and is not a signed technology contract or completed investment. HPC can support digital infrastructure planning, data platforms and high-performance computing solutions.
- The Sidama Agricultural Investment Forum took place in Hawassa on 7–8 November, bringing together agricultural and investment stakeholders. No event procurement budget, hotel contract or tourism investment value was disclosed. HPC can support event-sector research, hospitality partnerships and business development initiatives.
Sector stories & insights.
On 5 November, Ethiopia and China signed a $15 million grant agreement to improve the Ethio-Djibouti Railway. The package includes locomotive spare parts, specialised railway equipment and technical assistance, including practical training for Ethiopian railway personnel. The funding is provided through the China-Aid fund.
The agreement creates opportunities for technical training institutions, railway engineering consultants, vocational education providers and equipment suppliers. HPC can support training partnerships, technical knowledge exchange and international supplier sourcing.
On 5 November, Southwest Ethiopia's Irrigation Schemes Development and Administration Agency published a tender for construction of the Gara and Kecha small-scale irrigation projects under the Food Systems Resilience Program. The Gara project covers approximately 55 hectares, with a construction period of 270 days. The contract value was not disclosed.
The projects create opportunities for irrigation contractors, water-management specialists, solar-pump suppliers and agricultural technology providers. HPC can support tender preparation, equipment sourcing and partnerships with international development contractors.
On 4 November, the International Finance Corporation signed its first investment agreement with Ethiopian fintech company Kifiya to expand AI-powered agricultural finance in Ethiopia and other African markets. Kifiya's platform uses more than 10 billion alternative data signals to assess borrowers and support digital lending. The investment amount was not publicly disclosed.
The investment creates opportunities for fintech investors, agricultural lenders, financial technology providers and rural finance partners. HPC can support investor introductions, financial partnerships and commercial expansion opportunities.
On 3 November, the National Bank of Ethiopia announced that its Monetary Policy Committee had kept the policy rate unchanged at 16% following its eighth meeting. The bank also reported broad money growth of 40.2% year on year and annual reserve money growth of 87.2% in the first quarter of 2026/27. No new monetary funding package was announced.
The decision has implications for lenders, businesses, investors and financial institutions managing borrowing costs and liquidity. HPC can support policy research, financial-sector partnerships and market-entry advisory services.
WHO Warns of Disruption to Life-Saving Medicine Deliveries in Northern Ethiopia
On 2 November, the World Health Organization highlighted challenges facing UN agencies and humanitarian organisations in delivering life-saving medicines amid expanding insecurity in northern Ethiopia, particularly in Amhara and Tigray. No confirmed monetary value for the affected medicine deliveries or emergency procurement requirement was disclosed.
The situation creates demand for pharmaceutical distributors, medical logistics providers, humanitarian suppliers and healthcare procurement specialists. HPC can support supplier identification, medical equipment sourcing and partnerships with humanitarian health organisations.
On 8 November, Ethiopia's Agricultural Transformation Institute reported plans to register up to four million farmers in a national digital database by 2028. Nearly one million farmers have already been enrolled, with the programme operating across 385 districts in seven regions. No total programme budget was disclosed.
The initiative creates opportunities for data-collection companies, digital identity specialists, agricultural training providers and field recruitment agencies. HPC can support workforce sourcing, digital skills training and implementation partnerships.
On 5 November, reports indicated that PetroChina International was considering an oil export corridor linking South Sudan to Djibouti through Ethiopia. The proposed route could reduce South Sudan's reliance on pipelines crossing Sudan, but no final investment decision, construction contract or project value was announced.
The proposal creates opportunities for pipeline engineering firms, storage operators, industrial equipment manufacturers and transport companies. HPC can support technical supplier sourcing, logistics partnerships and regional project development.
On 5 November, Ethiopia and China signed a $15 million grant agreement to improve the operational reliability of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway. The funding will cover locomotive mechanical and electrical spare parts, specialised track components, station-yard accessories, inspection machinery and technical support. The grant is intended to strengthen maintenance of the strategic transport corridor.
The agreement creates opportunities for railway equipment suppliers, engineering contractors, maintenance companies and technical service providers. HPC can support supplier partnerships, equipment sourcing and infrastructure project coordination.
OLA–TotalEnergies Ethiopia Acquisition Enters Regional Competition Review
On 8 November, reports indicated that OLA Energy's proposed acquisition of TotalEnergies Marketing Ethiopia had entered a COMESA competition review process. The transaction, originally agreed on 30 June 2026, covers more than 120 service stations, ten storage assets and related fuel distribution and aviation operations. The purchase price was not disclosed, and completion remains subject to regulatory approvals.
The review creates opportunities for competition lawyers, merger advisers, regulatory consultants and compliance specialists. HPC can support legal advisory partnerships, transaction research and introductions to regional compliance experts.
OLA Energy's Proposed Acquisition Covers More Than 120 Ethiopian Fuel Stations
On 8 November, Ethiopia's proposed downstream petroleum acquisition by OLA Energy attracted attention as the transaction entered a reported COMESA competition review. The share purchase agreement covers the entire downstream business of TotalEnergies Marketing Ethiopia, including more than 120 service stations and ten storage assets. No acquisition price was publicly disclosed, and the transaction has not been completed.
The proposed deal creates opportunities for corporate finance advisers, investment analysts, transaction lawyers and due-diligence specialists. HPC can support investor connections, transaction advisory partnerships and regional market research.
On 5 November, Reuters reported that Ethiopia had revised the estimated size of its economy upward by nearly 60% to approximately $201 billion following a national accounts rebasing exercise. The revision reflects changes in measurement and the inclusion of economic activity more accurately; it should not be interpreted as a sudden increase in real economic output. The government presentation did not provide a separate project or contract value.
The revised economic baseline creates demand for market intelligence, sector analysis, investment research and economic forecasting. HPC can support market-entry assessments, industry research and data-driven commercial planning.
On 2 November, the Ethiopian Media Authority indefinitely suspended the print and online publishing licence of The Reporter, covering its English and Amharic editions. The authority cited alleged violations of national interests and media ethics, while press-freedom organisations criticised the decision. No financial penalty or compensation amount was announced.
The development highlights demand for media-law advice, reputation management, corporate communications and digital publishing consultancy. HPC can support communications partnerships, media research and professional advisory connections.
On 8 November, businesses participating in the African Franchise Expo in Addis Ababa discussed expansion opportunities in hospitality, retail and food services. AI-CHA Ice Cream and Tea reported that more than 25 Ethiopian franchisees had each paid ETB 3.2 million for franchise packages, including a licence, 14 machines and an initial one-month supply of inputs. Hotel operator Naflet Hotels also reported seeking investors for developments in Addis Ababa and Zeway, without disclosing project values.
The activity creates opportunities for commercial property developers, hotel investors, retail operators and franchise consultants. HPC can support investor introductions, property partnerships and hospitality supplier sourcing.
On 4 November, Ethiopian fintech company Kifiya signed an investment agreement with the International Finance Corporation to expand its agricultural finance technology and rural operations. The platform uses AI and alternative data to help financial institutions assess borrowers, while connecting farmers and small businesses with lenders, suppliers and markets. The investment amount was not disclosed.
The agreement creates opportunities for fintech startups, AI developers, agricultural technology businesses and venture investors. HPC can support startup introductions, investor research and international technology partnerships.
Ethio Telecom and ZTE Introduce AI-Driven Radio Access Network Technology
On 5 November, Ethio Telecom and ZTE announced Ethiopia's first pre-commercial AI-driven radio access network solution. The companies reported an 11% increase in 4G capacity and 40% higher peak-hour user throughput compared with conventional technology. The financial value of the deployment was not disclosed.
The development creates opportunities for telecom equipment suppliers, AI developers, network optimisation firms and digital infrastructure providers. HPC can support technology sourcing, international supplier partnerships and digital transformation projects.
On 8 November, the African Franchise Expo in Addis Ababa highlighted growing interest in hospitality, food-service and franchise investments. Naflet Hotels said it was developing additional hotels in Addis Ababa and Zeway and seeking individual and institutional investors, while AI-CHA Ice Cream and Tea reported franchise packages priced at ETB 3.2 million each. No separate hotel development budget was disclosed.
The activity creates opportunities for hotel operators, tourism investors, restaurant franchises, leisure suppliers and hospitality consultants. HPC can support hotel investment introductions, franchise partnerships and tourism-sector supplier sourcing.