The Assessment of Enterprise Risk Management Practices of Ethiopian Commercial Banks

The study aims to examine the enterprise risk management (ERM) practices of Ethiopian commercial banks. This approach is undertaken to examine the current approach to enterprise risk management within the Ethiopian banking context. A mixed-methods research design is employed which comprises content analysis and a survey study. The study found that the prevailing emphasis of risk management functions in Ethiopian commercial banks revolves on ensuring compliance with regulatory reporting standards. A significant number of the banks have implemented ERM programs primarily to meet regulatory obligations, rather than leveraging ERM to generate firm value. The study identified several gaps in the risk management function of Ethiopian commercial banks, including lack of integration of risk management with the banks’ mission and core values, failure to assess the resources required for effective risk management and to prioritise resource allocation accordingly, inadequate coverage of relevant activities and functional areas by both risk management and internal audit activities, and limitations on the assignment of chief risk officers (CROs) to oversee the risk management function within the banks. Overall, the maturity level of ERM implementation among Ethiopian commercial banks is moderate and requires further enhancement.