Fitsum Girma Metaferia

Independent

Trainer

I am a finance and investment professional with more than 14 years of experience spanning banking, financial services, capital markets, and investment management. Throughout my career, I have developed deep expertise in financial analysis and advisory, strategic planning, project management, investment evaluation, and organizational leadership.

Currently, I serve as Finance and Investment Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC), through a secondment arrangement with GIZ Ethiopia. In this role, I lead the development and implementation of financial and investment strategies to strengthen the financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and long-term growth of IPDC and its affiliated business units.

My responsibilities encompass financial modeling, investment appraisal, risk management, financial planning, and regulatory compliance, as well as providing strategic counsel to senior leadership on critical business and investment decisions. I also play a key role in securing financing by leading funding negotiations, preparing investment proposals, and engaging with development partners and financial institutions. In addition, I design financial tools, frameworks, and capacity-building programs that enhance institutional capabilities and support sustainable organizational impact.
Before this role, I served as Senior Enrollment Projects Coordinator for Ethiopia’s National ID Program, where I contributed to the country’s digital transformation agenda and financial inclusion initiatives. In this capacity, I supported the implementation of large-scale enrollment projects, stakeholder coordination, and operational strategies aimed at expanding access to secure digital identity services.

Before transitioning to public-sector advisory and development roles, I held a series of leadership positions within major Ethiopian commercial banks. These experiences provided me with extensive hands-on expertise in banking operations, financial services, customer relationship management, business development, and cross-functional team leadership, while strengthening my ability to drive performance and deliver strategic outcomes in dynamic environments.

I hold a Master of Arts in Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Development Economics from Addis Ababa University School of Commerce. I am a Certified Capital Markets and Securities Analyst (CMSA®) through the Corporate Finance Institute (CFI). In addition, I hold a Level 4 Certificate in Introduction to Securities and Investment from the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), United Kingdom, and I am an IFC-LPI Certified Trainer in Training and Performance Monitoring.

Beyond my professional responsibilities, I am deeply committed to mentorship, capacity building, and initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth and youth empowerment. I serve as a freelance trainer and mentor for the Network of Ethiopia’s Women in Finance (NEWFin) program, delivered in partnership SWIFT Program and hosted by the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) and supported by the Mastercard Foundation. Through this program, I help equip emerging women professionals with foundational knowledge in finance, leadership, financial markets, and investment instruments, preparing them for successful and impactful careers in the financial sector.

I also deliver training in various financial advisory areas, M&E, and have been a mentor to startups through the BimaLab Africa InsurTech Accelerator, a pan-African initiative supported by the Swiss Re Foundation and FSD Africa. In this role, I advise early-stage ventures on business strategy, product development, legal and regulatory considerations, market expansion, and sustainable growth strategies.

Additionally, I serve on the management board of Sele Enat, a charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children through targeted social support, education, and community-based development initiatives. Through these engagements, I continue to contribute to the development of future leaders, innovative enterprises, and resilient communities across Africa.