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Erudite AfricaCenter of Excellence

Erudite Africa Center of Excellence · Free course

Financial Literacy for Everyone

Ten short, illustrated modules on running a business, setting goals, budgeting, saving, borrowing and staying safe with money. Free and open to everyone: register once with your name and contact details to start.

Start the course

0 of 10 modules completed

ይህን ኮርስ በአማርኛ ያንብቡ

How the course works

  1. 1

    Learn in small steps

    Each module has short lessons with pictures you can read in a few minutes.

  2. 2

    See it, then try it

    Animated graphics show each idea, and real-life examples show it at work.

  3. 3

    Check what you learned

    A short quiz ends each module. Your progress is saved on this device.

The ten modules

  1. Module 01Introduction to Business and EntrepreneurshipLearn what a business is, what makes an entrepreneur, and how to plan a business on paper.5 lessons · 12 min
  2. Module 02Goal SettingTurn your dreams into clear financial goals with a timeframe, a plan, and people who support you.7 lessons · 14 min
  3. Module 03BudgetingLearn to plan your money with a budget and stay within it.7 lessons · 12 min
  4. Module 04Basics of BookkeepingLearn to record your business money, read simple reports and manage your taxes.7 lessons · 15 min
  5. Module 05SavingsLearn why saving matters, where to save, and how to make a savings plan.6 lessons · 10 min
  6. Module 06InvestmentLearn what investing is, the main types, what to check before you invest, and how to spread your risk.5 lessons · 7 min
  7. Module 07Sources of FinanceLearn where business money can come from, and how to borrow and manage a loan responsibly.7 lessons · 14 min
  8. Module 08Financial ServicesLearn who provides financial services, how to open an account, and the pros and cons of formal and informal finance.7 lessons · 13 min
  9. Module 09Digital Financial ServicesLearn how phones, cards, ATMs and POS devices help you manage money, and how to use them safely.7 lessons · 12 min
  10. Module 10Risk Management and InsuranceLearn to spot the risks to your life and business, handle them step by step, and use insurance and retirement planning.7 lessons · 12 min

Declaration and acknowledgment of sources

The Erudite Africa Center of Excellence, the training arm of Erudite Africa Investments PLC, declares that the content of this course is adapted from the Financial Education Module for the Youth and MSMEs (basic level), published by the National Bank of Ethiopia in May 2024, and from its Amharic edition (2016 E.C.).

The knowledge, concepts, examples and structure of this course belong to the authors and institutions credited below. The Center of Excellence has only simplified, shortened, illustrated and arranged the original for online learning. Any errors introduced in this adaptation are the Center of Excellence's own.

This course is offered free of charge for public financial education. It is not an official publication of the National Bank of Ethiopia, and the institutions named here have not reviewed or endorsed this adaptation.

Original authors and institutions

  • National Bank of Ethiopia

    Publisher of the module, prepared under its Financial Education Strategy (2021-2025)

  • St. Mary's University

    Developed the module

  • First Consult

    Developed the module with St. Mary's University and the National Bank of Ethiopia, under the BRIDGES program

  • Mastercard Foundation

    Supported the development of the module under the BRIDGES program

  • Financial Education Working Group

    Financial experts and representatives of various organizations who contributed to the content

Preface to the original module signed by

  • H.E. Mamo Mihretu, Governor, National Bank of Ethiopia
  • Samuel Yalew, Ethiopia Country Director, Mastercard Foundation
  • Nebil Kellow, Managing Director, First Consult

Works cited in the original module

World Bank; OECD/INFE; International Labour Organization (ILO); Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); Bank of Uganda; Reserve Bank of India; Kilimo Trust; Mengesha et al. (2020); National Bank of Ethiopia, Financial Inclusion Strategy (2017); FDRE Proclamation No. 1147/2019.

The original module is published by the National Bank of Ethiopia at nbe.gov.et.