Creating Resilient Businesses in Ethiopia - August 2018 - Photo Mickael Franci
EthioGreen is a company from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They make injera, the typical Ethiopian flatbread.
Injera is made from teff, a gluten-free, protein rich grain which is gaining popularity throughout the world.
EthioGreen is looking to expand so they can start exporting their authentic product. Mostly to the Ethiopian diaspora in the United States.
Since April 2015, Cordaid has supported 53 local small and medium-sized enterprises in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The Resilient Business Development Services program provided them with training, coaching, mentorship and expert seminars.
Although Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, many of its inhabitants still live in extreme poverty. Being able to work and earn a steady income is not within reach for most people living in the slums of the city or the remote countryside.
Cordaid has searched for businesses that have already proven to have what it takes to compete in both the local and international market but just need that final push to really get there. Cordaid believes that by strengthening these companies, more jobs will become available and in the long run, a large number of people will benefit from the economic growth.
Even when a company is successful in its core activity, there might be other factors that block its ability to expand and hire more employees. Dengel, for example, is already a well-known brand in Ethiopia. Now they want to export their nursing pillows to other countries in the region and compete with other brands.
"When we joined Cordaid, the training solved one of our major problems", says Dawit Desta, CEO of Dengel. "We lacked technical expertise. So we took courses in financial management, human resources management and marketing. This really made us take a big step forward. Now I see a lot of room for us to grow and become an international business in the near future."
In September 2018 Cordaid is starting the activities for the fifth and the last batch of small and medium-sized enterprises in Addis Ababa. This part of the program will be more integrated with Cordaid's investments branch. Through the Stability Impact Fund, the businesses that were deemed ready for investment can get better access to finance and do a much-needed investment to further their own dreams and those of Ethiopia.
Creating Resilient Businesses in Ethiopia - August 2018 - Photo Mickael Franci
EthioGreen is a company from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They make injera, the typical Ethiopian flatbread.
Injera is made from teff, a gluten-free, protein rich grain which is gaining popularity throughout the world.
EthioGreen is looking to expand so they can start exporting their authentic product. Mostly to the Ethiopian diaspora in the United States.
Since April 2015, Cordaid has supported 53 local small and medium-sized enterprises in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The Resilient Business Development Services program provided them with training, coaching, mentorship and expert seminars.
Although Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, many of its inhabitants still live in extreme poverty. Being able to work and earn a steady income is not within reach for most people living in the slums of the city or the remote countryside.
Cordaid has searched for businesses that have already proven to have what it takes to compete in both the local and international market but just need that final push to really get there. Cordaid believes that by strengthening these companies, more jobs will become available and in the long run, a large number of people will benefit from the economic growth.
Even when a company is successful in its core activity, there might be other factors that block its ability to expand and hire more employees. Dengel, for example, is already a well-known brand in Ethiopia. Now they want to export their nursing pillows to other countries in the region and compete with other brands.
"When we joined Cordaid, the training solved one of our major problems", says Dawit Desta, CEO of Dengel. "We lacked technical expertise. So we took courses in financial management, human resources management and marketing. This really made us take a big step forward. Now I see a lot of room for us to grow and become an international business in the near future."
In September 2018 Cordaid is starting the activities for the fifth and the last batch of small and medium-sized enterprises in Addis Ababa. This part of the program will be more integrated with Cordaid's investments branch. Through the Stability Impact Fund, the businesses that were deemed ready for investment can get better access to finance and do a much-needed investment to further their own dreams and those of Ethiopia.