The Complete Guide to Project Management in Ethiopia 2024

• David Njoroge
• 23 Aug, 2023
• 0 Comments
• 5 Mins Read

Not only is the nature of work ever-changing but also how it is done. One of the newest work trends is project management. Businesses are looking to start and complete projects on schedule. As a result, consumers’ needs are met through a product or service.

For-profit organizations and nonprofits in Ethiopia are obviously casting about for project managers. The reason is that the second most populous country in Africa is seeing a spike in urbanization and infrastructure projects. Energy projects especially renewable ones are increasing at a fast rate. Hence the country needs people with skillfulness in project management.

Energy in Ethiopia is in the group of sectors in need of project managers. The country has abundant sources of hydropower, geothermal, wind and solar energy with a combined estimated potential of 60,000 megawatts. Hence, an Ethiopian energy company can bring a project manager on board to coordinate activities.

Managing an energy project can also entail the following responsibilities:

• Manage the design, engineering and construction of an energy project
• Conduct site investigations and feasibility studies
• Develop and execute the project proposal to determine time frame and funding limitations.
• Determine staffing requirements and allotment of available resources to various phases of the project
• Produce progress reports on a regular basis
• Hold regular meetings with management, clients, subcontractors to communicate status of the project
• Provide engineering support for development and permitting activities as needed
• Oversee the execution of and compliance with construction contracts
• Work with construction team to ensure adequate scopes of work are executed as per the contracts
• Come up with the project engineering, procurement and construction budget and control expenditure so that the project remains within budget

Project Management Course in Ethiopia

For an inhabitant of Ethiopia, enrolling in a course and earning a certification in project management is the first step toward a career as a project manager. A couple of institutions of higher learning that are accredited by the government of Ethiopia give lectures in project management. An alternative route is earning a Project Management Institute (PMI) certification which open the way for a job in that field.

At present, universities and colleges in Ethiopia which educate students in project management, do it in form of a short course. It is unmistakable that private institutions are part of the educators. Addis Ababa University is the only public university that offers a short course in project management.

Admission Requirements

Here is what is needed during application for a certificate in project management in Ethiopia:

• Pass the Ethiopian General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (EGSECE) in at least five core subjects including Mathematics and English

Course Duration and Structure

A Certificate in Project Management programme in Ethiopia takes either a few weeks or a few months for full time students. But it can take longer for part-time students. With a view to cater to needs of different students, these universities have a flexible schedule.

Here are the common units:

1. Introduction to Project Management
2. Planning, scheduling and controlling
3. Monitoring and evaluation
4. Quality management
5. Risk management
6. Cost management
7. Stakeholder management
8. Team management
9. Scope management
10. Monitoring and evaluation

Course Fees in Ethiopia

Tuition fees for a short course in project management in Ethiopia is between 20,000 Ethiopian Birr and 30,000 Ethiopian Birr. This money covers the cost of registration, tuition and examinations. Additional costs are meant for students to access university resources like library and internet.

Which is the Highest Level of Education in Project Management in Ethiopia?

A master’s degree in project management is publicly available in Ethiopia. This kind of degree helps students delve deeper into this field and expand their career options. There are a few universities in the country that offer this type of graduate degree.

Which Certification is Best for Project Management in Ethiopia?

It is common for some employers to prefer to hire project managers who hold PMI certifications. This is because PMI is the primary organization offering professional certificates in project management. Many project managers pursue either a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification or a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or even both.

How to Become a Certified Project Manager in Ethiopia

PMI has a branch in Ethiopia called PMI Ethiopia chapter. Therefore, an aspiring project manager in Ethiopia is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by PMI Ethiopia. It’s the most widely recognized certification in the world.

Here is what it takes to qualify for a PMP certification in Ethiopia:

• For those who have completed secondary school (high school) education, need to put in 60 months of experience leading projects and 35 hours of project management training or have CAPM certification
• Prepare for the PMP exam by studying. The cost of the classes depends on the institution and the format. A student can be trained either in person or online. There are several authorized training centers alongside accredited institutions in Ethiopia that offer PMP certification classes.
• Clearly, with a CAPM certification, a student does not need to fulfil the 35-hour education requirement.
• The next step is paying the PMP exam fee. For a PMI member, it costs US405 Dollars (about 22,000 Ethiopian Birr) while for a non-PMI member it costs US555 Dollars (about 30,500 Ethiopian Birr).
• After paying, a student can schedule their exam. The exam can be taken online or at a testing center in Ethiopia accredited by Pearson Vue. In case a student fails, they can retake the exam up to three times in one year.
• A student who passes the exam becomes PMP certified. A certified project manager in Ethiopia must keep their certification active by completing certain stages of continuing education.

Project Management Careers in Ethiopia

An Ethiopian can be employed as a project manager after studying project management. Seeing as a project manager’s work is to support the owner’s expectations of a successful project, they can be found in every type of organization. Their effectiveness is measured by the products and services they create for a variety of industries. The sectors where project managers work include:

• Construction and real estate
• Engineering
• Information Technology (IT)
• Manufacturing
• Hospitality
• Transportation and logistics
• Financial services
• Advertising and marketing
• Retail
• Non-profit

Project Manager Salary in Ethiopia

Project managers in Ethiopia earn an estimated salary that ranges from 120,000 Ethiopian Birr to 180,000 Ethiopian Birr a year. Besides, the salary will be different based on level of experience from entry level to mid-level to senior level. The other factor that determines a project manager’s salary is the size of the project and the industry.

Assistant Project Manager Salary in Ethiopia

Assistant project managers in Ethiopia earn an estimated salary that ranges from 70,000 Ethiopian Birr to 100,000 Ethiopian Birr a year. Since they help the project manager in running a project, their salary is less than their immediate supervisor. Project size, nature of the industry and level of experience are also considered in setting their pay.

Job Outlook for Project Managers in Ethiopia

There is a high level of demand for project managers in Ethiopia. Businesses in the country are setting projects in motion more rapidly than expected. In consideration of this fact, they need professionals to be at the helm of these projects. Organizations in Ethiopia are adjusting to project management practices so that they remain profitable.