The Ethiopian Institute of Financial Studies (EIFS) is engaging in a joint planning and prioritization workshop with the SWIFT Program to align efforts and agree on shared priorities for the next three years.
Over three days, directors, managers, and technical experts from EIFS, NBE (National Bank of Ethiopia), and the SWIFT Program are participating in an offsite working retreat focused on developing a coordinated roadmap to advance the Institute’s transformation agenda.
Opening the workshop, EIFS Executive Director Gebreyesus Guntie emphasized the importance of close collaboration among the three entities. “The purpose of this workshop is to ensure coordination between EIFS and the SWIFT Program by preparing a concrete joint workplan built around the ten strategic goals of the transformation strategy,” he said.
EIFS sits at the center of an ambitious transformation spearheaded by the National Bank of Ethiopia, which envisions the Institute becoming a center of excellence for financial sector learning, leadership development, and innovation and training-oriented research serving Ethiopia and the wider region.
Originally established in 1966 as a training center for finance professionals, EIFS has trained tens of thousands of practitioners across the financial sector from its campus in Akaki Kaliti. Recognizing the Institute’s significant untapped potential, the NBE launched a comprehensive transformation agenda in 2024. Since then, NBE has commissioned independent assessments, developed a transformation strategy, initiated upgrades to the Institute’s physical infrastructure, and mobilized strategic partnerships to support the transformation journey.
One of the key initiatives supporting this transformation is the Skilled Workforce for Innovation and Financial Sector Transformation (SWIFT) Program—a flagship initiative conceived by the National Bank of Ethiopia in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The four-year program was designed to support EIFS in building the systems, capabilities, and institutional capacity needed to become a world-class provider of financial sector education and training.
Having recently completed its inception phase, the SWIFT Program is now working closely with EIFS and other directorates of the NBE to translate the transformation strategy into concrete actions. The workshop brings together the partners at a critical moment, as EIFS begins implementing its three-year strategic plan, under the broader NBE strategic framework.
By aligning priorities, resources, and workplans, the participants aim to ensure greater coordination, efficiency, and impact in delivering on the shared vision of transforming EIFS into a leading institution for financial sector talent development in Ethiopia and beyond.
