AAU Institutional Repository (AAU-ETD)
Addis Ababa University Institutional repository is an open access repository that collects,preserves, and disseminates scholarly outputs of the university. AAU-ETD archives' collection of master's theses, doctoral dissertations and preprints showcase the wide range of academic research undertaken by AAU students over the course of the University's long history.
How to Submit Your Work
The repository contains scholarly work, both unpublished and published, by current or former AAU faculty, staff, and students, including Works by AAU students as part of their masters, doctoral, or post-doctoral research
- All AAU faculty, staff, and students are invited to submit their work to the repository. Please contact the library at your college.
You may contact digirep@aau.edu.et.with any questions about the repository
Colleges,Institutes in AAU-ETD
Select a college,institute to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
Assessing Urban Design Practices and the Implementation Challenges of Urban Design Megaprojects in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2026-02-01) Muse Hayelemskel; Wondwossen Debebe
Urban design megaprojects in rapidly urbanizing cities often face urban design practice challenges that undermine their effectiveness, legitimacy, and social sustainability. In Addis Ababa, recent government led urban design megaprojects initiated in 2019, particularly the Shegern Maswab initiative, have raised concerns regarding prevailing urban design practices and implementation processes. This study assesses urban design practices and the implementation challenges of selected urban design megaprojects in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Using a case study method, the research integrates document review, semi-structured stakeholder interviews, field observations, survey data to capturing resident perceptions and outcomes of urban design interventions. The findings reveal systemic procedural weaknesses, including the commencement of construction prior to the completion of design documentation, politically driven time pressures, frequent on-site design modifications, and deviations from approved specifications and the Structural Plan, which collectively undermine spatial coherence, construction quality, and regulatory compliance. Public participation is largely symbolic and consultative, limiting stakeholder influence and resulting in persistent misalignment between design intentions and local needs. Additional challenges include weak inter agency coordination, unclear project parameters, limited involvement of design professionals, regulatory gaps, political intervention to the professions, and the uncritical adoption of foreign design models without adequate contextual adaptation. In some cases, these processes have contributed to resident displacement, and the erosion of place based social networks. While strong political commitment and centralized supervision have ensured project delivery on time, the study concludes that current urban design practices require substantial recalibration. Strengthening participatory governance, improving regulatory compliance, and enhancing professional engagement either through the development of a holistic locally grounded urban design practice manual or, at a minimum, through stricter adherence to existing planning and design regulations are essential to achieving socially inclusive, coherent, and sustainable urban megaprojects in Addis Ababa.
“Evaluating the Alternative Use of Phytogenics as Feed Additives: Effects on Growth Performance and Immune Response in Newcastle Disease-Vaccinated Broiler Chickens
(Addis Abeba University, 2025) Robel Girma; Takele Beyene (Asso. Professor)
Background: Phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) a group of medicinal plants and their essential oils—are increasingly used in poultry sector due to their biologically active compounds that promote animal health, enhance immune function, stimulate growth, boost productivity and reduce mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary PFAs on the growth performance and immunological response of broiler chickens to Newcastle disease (ND). Methods: Experimental study was conducted on a total of 200 Cobb 500 chicks. The chicks were randomly assigned to six groups, with each group comprising three replicates of 10 chicks. To establish baseline immunological data, 20 chicks were bled before the experiment. One treatment group (G4) received only basal diet, while the remaining groups (G1, G2, G3, G5, and G6) were supplemented with 2% of specific phytogenics: thyme (Thymus vulgaris, G1 and G6), lemongrass (Cymbopogon schoenanthus, G2), and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, G3). Additionally, G5 received a commercially available vitamin supplement commonly used by medium-scale poultry farms. Throughout the 42-day study period, mortality, feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight
gain (BWG), and feed intake were recorded. Serological tests were conducted on three representative chickens per replication to assess antibody responses by ELISA test. Results: The findings of this study demonstrated that the inclusion of PFAs to the diet had no significant effect on overall feed intake. Body weight (BW), BWG, and average daily weight gain (ADWG) did not differ significantly among groups during the starter and grower stages. However, by day 42, G2 and G5 exhibited significantly greater final BW, overall BWG, and ADWG (p < 0.01) compared to the other groups. Over the study duration, G5 chickens achieved the best FCR, followed by G2 and G4. Serological results showed that on day 42 of the trial, the G3 and G5 chickens had a higher antibody titer against the ND vaccination. These findings suggested that adding 2% of this PFA leaf powder to broiler diets had no detrimental effects on feed consumption, while emongrass inclusion enhances growth performance (BW and ADWG) and FCR similarly to commercially available vitamins. However, the inclusion of these dietary PFAs did not significantly influence immune organs development. Rosemary inclusion into the diet and supplementing vitamins improved the immune status of broiler chickens against ND. Conclusion: The selected herbs, particularly lemongrass and rosemary, may be used as effective natural alternatives to synthetic supplements by improving growth performance and immune response in broiler chickens. Further research is needed to fully elucidate their potential as substitutes for antibiotic growth promoters in commercial poultry production
IT/IS Risk Management Framework for the National Bank of Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-07-01) Mohammed Kemal; Temtim Asefa
With the increasing prevalence of cyber threats and rapid digital transformation, robust IS risk management has become essential for financial institutions particularly central banks that play a critical role in ensuring national economic stability. Despite the growing complexity and volume of IS-related risks, the National Bank of Ethiopia has not yet implemented a formal IS risk management framework aligned with its strategic objectives. The absence of a structured approach limits the bank ability to proactively identify, assess, and respond to evolving IS risks, thereby exposing critical systems to potential disruptions.This study aims to assess the current IS risk management practices at NBE, identify organizational
and procedural gaps, and propose a practical IS Risk Management Framework tailored to the institution‘s context. The research adopts a qualitative methodology grounded in the ISACA Risk IT Framework, focusing on the domains of Risk Governance, Risk Evaluation, and Risk Response. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 participants from ISMD, Internal audit and risk management, and business units, as well as document reviews. This study employed qualitative data analysis software (QDAS) to systematically code and interpret interview transcripts.The findings reveal that NBE current approach to IT/IS risk management is fragmented, reactive, and poorly integrated with enterprise-level strategies. Key issues include the absence of a dedicated IS risk policy, lack of a governance committee; silos risk data, and reliance on basic risk categorization methods. Interview responses also highlighted gaps in risk communication, cross functional coordination, and post-incident learning processes. Based on these insights and supported by best practices (e.g., the risk IT framework, ISO 31000, COBIT 5 for Risk, and Option Based IT risk management framework), a tailored Information system Risk Management Framework is proposed. The framework includes strategic alignment mechanisms, formal governance roles, continuous risk monitoring processes, and a capacity-building agenda.research makes a theoretical contribution by contextualizing and extending the ISACA Risk IT the central banking sector in developing countries, addressing a gap in IS risk management literature within this underexplored domain. It provides a structured model for enhancing Information system risk oversight in NBE and similar institutions. Future studies are
recommended to test the framework effectiveness across broader institutional settings and to explore quantitative validation approaches
Legal Framework for Bank Acquisition of Immovable Assets Following Failed Second Auction: Valuation Standards and Regulatory Gaps in Ethiopia
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-06-01) Lemlem Birhanu; Zekarias Keneaa
This research analyzes the legal framework governing the valuation and acquisition of immovable assets by Ethiopian banks, in particular focusing on circumstances where a second auction for distressed assets has failed. The study critically assess existing laws, regulations, and directives that dictate the processes of asset valuation, bid pricing, and eventual transfer of ownership to banks when conventional auction mechanisms prove unsuccessful. This research aims to identify potential gaps, inconsistencies, or ambiguities within the current legal provisions that may hinder efficient resolution of non-performing loans and the effective recovery of bank capital. Through doctrinal methodology analysis of these legal instruments, the research look to identify systemic challenges presented by the current framework and to propose recommendations for policy reforms that could streamline the asset recovery process, improve financial stability, and foster a more efficient secondary market for non-performing assets market in Ethiopia, characterized by increased transparency, liquidity, and investor confidence
Incentives to Compliant Taxpayers Under Ethiopian Tax Laws: Legal and Practical Analysis
(Addis Ababa University, 2025-05-01) Serkalem Assefa; Achalewu Ashagire
This paper critically examines whether the tax laws currently in place in Ethiopia incentivize compliant taxpayers, analyzing both their legal framework and practical implementation. Although tax compliance is vital for increasing domestic revenue and promoting national development, incentivizing compliance through granting positive rewards is a relatively underexplored area in Ethiopia. The current legal regime in Ethiopia including the Federal Income tax, Federal Tax Administration Proclamations, Customs proclamation, and Excise Tax Proclamation demonstrated to be inadequate to effectively incentivize compliant taxpayers. These regulations don’t provide a framework that addresses incentives for compliant taxpayers to promote voluntary compliance. Through doctrinal legal analysis and practical evaluation supported by questioner and interview with stakeholders, the research identifies the absence of detailed provisions and a coherent enforcement mechanism undermines the effectiveness of compliant taxpayers’ incentive scheme. To address these gaps, the author recommends that Ethiopia shall re assess its tax law legal framework to ensure that tax compliance is not only enforced but also rewarded in a meaning full manner with a view to promote voluntary tax compliance which will reduce the cost of tax administration