Please be aware that the information is subject to change. Information on conference logistics, such as registration times, will be added in the coming weeks.
We Welcome you to Addis Ababa!
We are very happy to be hosting the Understanding Risk and Finance Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We have prepared general information below to aid your travel to and within this wonderful city.
Conference Day Logistics
Dates and Locations
The conference will be held November 17-20, 2015.
- Day 1-3 will take place at the African Union Headquarters:
P.O. Box 3243
Roosevelt Street
(Old Airport Area)
W21K19
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00
Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44
- Day 4 will take place at the University of Addis Ababa:
King George VI St, Addis Ababa 1000, Ethiopia
A welcome pack will be shared with you upon your arrival at the conference that will contain information on the program, as well as your badge and other requirements to enter the African Union Commission (AUC) Headquarter during the conference.
Expo and Exhibition
If you have been accepted to have an expo booth or exhibit materials, you may set up your booth or display at AUC headquarters on November 16th between 9 am and 5 pm or between 7 and 9 am on the morning of the conference. All booths and displays must be ready by 9 am on November 17th. Expo and Exhibition sites are located in the main building of the conference and are open to all conference attendees.
Attending Trainings
You will have the opportunity to register for a training during registration These trainings are expected to fill up quickly, so register early to guarantee your spot in these training sessions. Training sessions are open to the general public.
Building Facilities
Wifi and electricity are available at the conference venue.
Languages
French and English interpretation will be available throughout the conference.
Online Resources
- Conference: https://www.understandrisk.org/urfinance
- Agenda: https://www.understandrisk.org/URFAGenda
- Registration: http://urfconference.org/
Flights
The airport in Addis Ababa is Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (code: ADD). International flights fly into Terminal II and domestic and regional flights fly into Terminal I. Note that conference begins at 10 am on November 17th and ends at 5 pm on November 20th. Book your tickets accordingly.
- Bole International Airport Website: www.addisairport.com
- The following airlines fly into Bole International Airport: Ethiopian Airlines, United, ANA, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Air India, SAS, Air China, South African Airways, Saudia, Turkish Airlines, Asiana Airlines, EgyptAir, EL AL Israel Airlines, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways
Visa
Visas cannot be obtained on arrival in Ethiopia. They must be obtained through an Ethiopian Consulate before your trip. The process for obtaining a visa varies greatly depending on country of origin and country of residence. Visit the closest Ethiopian Consulate for precise information on visa requirements. A letter of invitation will be provided to support visa applications. Please request this when you register online and the UR&F team will follow up: https://www.understandrisk.org/urfinance . If you need a visa (if you are coming from outside Ethiopia), you must register and request assistance by October 9th.
Note that the visa start date usually begins on the date of issuance, and most business visas are issued for one month. Therefore, we will aim to issue your visa few weeks before you depart.
Transportation
To and from the airport
We recommend arranging airport pickup and drop-off ahead of time with your hotel. There are also taxis available at the airport for immediate hire.
To and from the conference
A shuttle will transport participants from three central locations to conference venue each morning and return participants to these locations each evening. This website will be updated when pickup spots are finalized.
| Day | Departure from hotel | Departure from conference venue |
| Tuesday, Nov. 17 – AUC Headquarters | 9:00am | 6:30pm 8:00pm |
| Wednesday, Nov. 18 – AUC Headquarters | 8:00am | 5:30pm 8:00pm |
| Thursday, Nov. 19 – AUC Headquarters | 8:00am | 6:00pm 8:00pm |
| Friday, Nov. 20 – Addis Ababa University | 8:00am | 5:30pm |
Guests are welcome to arrange their own transportation to and from the conference, for instance on public transportation by hiring a taxi which are both available in Addis Ababa.
Hotels
November is a busy time for hotels in Addis Ababa. We recommend booking accommodation as soon as possible. We have compiled the following range of options for consideration. You may use online booking websites such as hotels.google.com, tripadvisor.com, or booking.com to explore other options and booking options.
| Hotel Name | Website | Phone Number | Approximate USD/Night | Class | Minutes to AUC by car |
| Radisson Blu Hotel | http://bit.ly/1iTvDcd | 251 115157600 | $200-$500 | ***** | 13 |
| Sheraton Addis | www.sheratonaddis.com | 25111 5171717 | $275-$500 | ***** | 10 |
| Capital Hotel and Spa | www.capitalhotelandspa.com | 251 1 16 67 21 00
251 1 16 19 20 00 |
$180-$250 | **** | 20 |
| Addissinia Hotel | www.addissiniahotel.com | 251 116 62 36 34
251 116 62 34 39 251 116 69 54 08 |
$103-$150 | **** | 20 |
| Dreamliner Hotel | www.dreamlinerhotel.com | 251 11 467 4000 | $101-$139 | **** | 15 |
| Tizeze Hotel | www.tizezehotel.com | 251116392000/01/02 | $87-$175 | **** | 17 |
| Addis Regency Hotel | www.addisregencyhotel.com | 251-111-55-00-00/34/31 | $79-$105 | **** | 15 |
| Hotel Lobelia | http://www.hotellobeliaaddis.com/ | 251 116 673850 | $70-$90 | **** | 20 |
| Dessie Hotel | http://dessiehotel.com/rooms | 251115576009 | $50-$85 | **.5 | 5 |
| Atelefugne | http://atelefugne.com | 251 912 190328 | $18-30 | N/a | 5 |
Relevant Traveler Information
CURRENCY
The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB), made up of 100 cents (1 Birr). Birr notes are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100.
ATMS
ATMs/cash machines – are found throughout Addis Ababa. Dashen Bank is a principal member of both Visa and MasterCard International and has deployed 55 ATMs in Addis Ababa. There is an ATM at some of the larger Hotels.
WEATHER
You will find a subtropical climate in Addis Ababa with constant temperatures between the months. Addis Ababa has short winters from mid-November till January and also the first rainy season doesn’t last very long (February – May) and has warm temperatures. The second rainy season of the year is between June and September where the temperatures are lower, you have more rain and hail and less hours of sun per day. Afterwards the dry season starts.
The average high/low temperature for November is 22.6°C/8.7°C (72.7°F/47.4°F).
Questions
- Direct questions on logistics to: Chalida Chararnsuk (cchararnsuk@worldbank.org) and Sergio De Cosmo (sdecosmo@worldbank.org)
- Questions relating to Expo or Exhibition may be directed to Elizabeth Alonso-Hallifax, World Bank Group, ealonsohallifax@worldbankgroup.org, Tel +1-202-779-1557.
Checklist
October 9th:
- Deadline to register if you wish to apply for an expo booth or exhibition space at the conference
- Deadline to register if you will need a visa to enter Ethiopia (this applies to all people coming from outside Ethiopia)
- Book flights (suggested)
- Book hotels (suggested)
October 21st:
- Suggested date to apply for a visa at an Ethiopian Consulate (you will apply using a hard copy of the visa support letter that we will provide)
- Arrange transportation to and from airport with hotels
October 30st:
- Deadline to register for the conference (general admission)