About the Commission

Why the Commission exists

Zakat, organised the way it deserves

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam. The founding regulation sets out to give Ethiopia's Muslim community a system that lets them fulfil it properly, and to make sure Zakat reaches its purpose: helping the community, reducing poverty and contributing to the country's development.

It calls for collection and distribution that are transparent, accountable and trustworthy, follow Shari'ah and the country's laws, and use modern economic systems and technology, run by an institution with legal personality that Zakat payers and recipients can trust.

1207/2020

Federal proclamation it rests on

Members of the Board of Directors

Scholars on the first Shari'ah Advisory Board

5 yrs

Board term, at most two in a row

Legal foundation

How the Commission came to be

4 July 2020
Proclamation No. 1207/2020
The House of Peoples' Representatives grants legal personality to the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, and to the religious institutions established under it, without further registration. The proclamation requires the Council to run a clear and transparent financial administration.
2018 E.C. (2025)
The Zakat Commission regulation
Using its power under Article 6(2) of the proclamation, the Supreme Council issues the regulation establishing its Zakat Commission: a religious administration body with its own legal personality, accountable to the Council and independent in its professional and administrative work.
18/10/2018 E.C. (2026)
Certificate of Establishment
The Supreme Council certifies the Ethiopian Zakat Commission as a legal person under Article 80(1) of the Mejlis regulation and Article 2(1) of Proclamation 1207/2020.
24 Sene 2018 E.C. (1 July 2026)
Registered with the Ministry of Revenues
The Commission is registered as a taxpayer in Addis Ababa under medical and social welfare support services.

Mandate

What the Commission is charged with

From Article 4 of the establishment regulation.

Collect Zakat

Collect Zakat money and property from individuals and institutions obliged to pay it, in Ethiopia and abroad, according to the principles of Shari'ah and current fatwas.

Distribute it to those entitled

Distribute what is collected to the people, institutions and works entitled to Zakat, following the same principles.

Transparency and trust

Build a system where collecting and distributing Zakat is transparent, accountable and trustworthy, run with modern, efficient administration.

Reduce poverty

Set strategic plans so that Zakat contributes to sustainable poverty reduction, aligned with national poverty reduction programmes.

Islamic finance

Ensure that interest-free financial institutions pay Zakat on their wealth, working with the National Bank and other public and private institutions.

Research and awareness

Study Zakat, publish research, hold workshops and training, learn from other countries' experience, and advise on law and policy.

Development without touching Zakat

Set up development and administrative institutions with other Shari'ah-permitted funds, never from the Zakat collected.

Work with others

Cooperate with the Supreme Council, Shari'ah courts, the Waqf Commission, government, banks, NGOs, civil society, international bodies and embassies.

Governance

Who runs the Commission

The Commission is accountable to the Supreme Council and independent in its professional and administrative work.

Board of Directors

25 members. The first board was nominated by the President of the Supreme Council and approved by its General Assembly. Members serve five years and at most two consecutive terms. The board leads and supervises the Commission, appoints the Commissioner, issues directives and approves the annual plan and budget.

Shari'ah Advisory Board

Formed together with the Supreme Council's Ulama Assembly to check that the Commission's work follows Shari'ah and the applicable fatwas. Its first members are 9 scholars.

Commissioner

The chief executive, accountable to the board. Recommends deputy commissioners for collection and for distribution, manages staff, prepares the plan and budget, and represents the Commission.

Control committee

An oversight committee within the Commission's structure, alongside the other committees and administrative bodies the work requires.

Where it applies. The regulation binds the Supreme Council at every level, the regional Islamic affairs councils down to the woreda Mejlis, mosques and their institutions, and Ethiopian Muslims at home and in the diaspora. Existing Zakat committees are registered, recognised and trained by the Commission. The Commission has its head office and may open branch offices in the regions and abroad.

Transparency

Official documents

The documents that establish and register the Commission, published in full.

Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council · 18/10/2018 E.C.

Certificate of Establishment

Grants the Ethiopian Zakat Commission legal personality under Proclamation 1207/2020. Signed by the President of the Supreme Council and the Ulama Assembly.