The Entrepreneurship Development Institute has entered a new chapter of collaboration through two major partnerships that are set to create real opportunities for businesses and young people in Ethiopia. The agreement with Shayashone Trading Plc and the joint initiative with UNICEF are both designed to support entrepreneurs, strengthen agribusiness value chains, widen digital skills and bring more young people into the economy. The focus is clear. These partnerships aim to create jobs, improve business performance and help build an economy that gives more people a chance to grow.
Strengthening Agribusiness and Enterprise Support
The partnership between EDI and Shayashone Trading Plc brings together the strengths of both institutions. Shayashone has long worked in agribusiness consulting and corporate advisory services while EDI carries a national mandate to develop entrepreneurs and offer practical market driven support. This new agreement sets out a joint effort to improve agribusiness corporate consulting and digital skills development across the country.
A major part of the collaboration focuses on improving the agribusiness ecosystem. Ethiopia depends heavily on agriculture and many small farmers, women entrepreneurs and young people rely on the sector for their income. The partnership aims to improve value chains from production to market and help farmers and agribusiness owners access technical support training and connections with buyers. Innovation hubs and public private networks will play a big role in helping new and existing businesses find opportunities and become more competitive.
The second area of work centers on corporate consulting and Business Development Services. Shayashone will bring its advisory expertise to help cooperatives, small enterprises and larger agribusiness companies improve their management systems, strengthen operations and solve problems through innovation. EDI’s national presence and entrepreneurship programs will help expand these services to more regions and ensure that both new and experienced entrepreneurs get practical support.
Digital and entrepreneurship skills also sit at the heart of the partnership. EDI and Shayashone will co-design training programs that use technology to deliver accessible learning. This includes promoting digital platforms so that business owners, rural youth and emerging entrepreneurs can access high quality training without barriers. The goal is to build skills for a modern economy where technology is becoming essential.
During the signing Boru Shana, Deputy Director General of EDI said the partnership represents a practical step toward strengthening agribusiness and enterprise competitiveness across the country. He noted that bringing together EDI’s national role with Shayashone’s corporate and agribusiness expertise creates the right conditions for scalable results. Shayashone’s Founder and General Manager, Yared Sertse highlighted how the collaboration connects sector knowledge with national reach which will allow both institutions to support value chains, enterprise growth and new market opportunities.
To keep the work organised both institutions will form a Joint Steering Committee and a Technical Working Group. These bodies will plan, coordinate and oversee all activities under the partnership.
Supporting Young Entrepreneurs Across Three Regions
EDI has also launched another major initiative with UNICEF through the Biqu Wetat Programme. This project targets young entrepreneurs in Afar, Amhara and Tigray and aims to strengthen youth led businesses through both short term and long term solutions.
In the short term the project will support 150 young entrepreneurs who manage three Nutrition Centres of Excellence. These young business owners will receive focused training and guidance to help them run stronger and more sustainable enterprises. The aim is to help them expand their work and improve the services they provide in their communities.
The long term component is equally important. The project will train and certify 245 local Business Development Services Advisors across 50 woredas. These advisors will remain in their communities to offer ongoing support to youth led businesses from planning to finance and long term strategy. This makes the project self sustaining and ensures that young entrepreneurs continue receiving help long after the initial programme ends.
The initiative is strongly inclusive. Eighty percent of the participants are young women and ten percent are youth with disabilities. This focus on inclusion helps ensure that the country’s economic growth opens doors for groups that often face greater challenges.
A Growing Role in Ethiopia’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
For more than twelve years EDI has worked to empower entrepreneurs by providing practical solutions and creating a stronger ecosystem. The institution has played a major role in promoting collaboration between sectors and building systems that help small businesses grow.
Today EDI operates as a national leader in entrepreneurship and innovation. It provides support to individuals, businesses and public and private organisations through integrated programmes. It also offers specialised support to startups and high growth SMEs working in important economic sectors. By designing inclusive entrepreneurship programmes, promoting access to finance and supporting innovation EDI continues to champion an ecosystem where more Ethiopians can turn ideas into income.
The two new partnerships reflect this ongoing mission. Through collaboration with Shayashone and UNICEF, EDI is expanding its reach, building stronger support networks and helping create a future where more people can participate in and benefit from the country’s economic journey.
