The partnership between USAID’s Systems for Growth (MS4G) and ANDE seeks to enhance business support services and facilitate investments to foster private sector growth and resilience in this East African country.
Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial spirit is driving a new era of economic growth. To accelerate this transformation, the Market Systems for Growth (MS4G), in partnership with the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), is launching a groundbreaking activity to strengthen Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Challenge
Entrepreneurs in Ethiopia often lack access to the high-quality business support services, investments, and networks they need to thrive. This work addresses these challenges head-on.
USAID CATALYZE Market Systems for Growth (MS4G) partners with the private sector to build robust and resilient markets for delivery of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and food security products and services.
MS4G achieves this by investing in the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), agricultural cooperatives, and smallholder farmers by connecting them with finance, expertise, market opportunities, and skills.
MS4G also works to improve the operating environment for these firms by strengthening private sector ecosystem support institutions. For further information click here.
Ethiopia presents a complex operating environment for the MS4G. While the World Bank acknowledges Ethiopia’s impressive economic growth, ranking it among Africa’s fastest-growing economies, the country remains classified as one of the world’s poorest.
This paradox highlights the ongoing struggle for poverty reduction. Despite strides made in health, education, and food security over the past decade, as noted by USAID, Ethiopia faces significant challenges. Persistent food insecurity and a large, agriculture-dependent population expose vulnerabilities. Additionally, conflict and climate change have exacerbated these issues, creating a substantial humanitarian crisis documented in USAID’s reports.
This context underscores the critical need for the MS4G’s focus on strengthening Ethiopia’s private sector, particularly within the food security and WASH sectors. By empowering these sectors, MS4G aims to contribute to Ethiopia’s journey towards self-reliance, a goal echoed by USAID’s development initiatives.
Our Mission
To empower Ethiopian entrepreneurs
Our main goal is to broaden the accessibility and boost the quality of business support services, ensuring they align with international standards of excellence.
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Click to Learn More Mapping the Ecosystem Creating a comprehensive overview of Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial landscape, identifying gaps and opportunities.
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Click to Learn More Fostering Connections Connecting Ethiopian entrepreneurs and support organizations to global networks, knowledge, and resources.
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Click to Learn More Delivering Capacity Building Equipping Ethiopian business advisory service providers with the tools and expertise to deliver world-class support.
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Macroeconomic imbalances: Hinder private sector development and job creation.
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Conflict: Disrupts lives and infrastructure, including the impact of the recent cessation of hostilities.
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COVID-19 effects: While recovery is underway, lasting economic scars are expected.
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Food insecurity: Exacerbated by droughts, conflict, and global inflation
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Human capital: Low levels of development limit potential.
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Job creation: Struggles to keep pace with the rapidly growing workforce.
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Climate change: Poses a significant threat to development and is expected to cause major economic losses.
By increasing the efficiency of Entrepreneurship Support Organizations, this activity will have a transformative impact on Ethiopia’s economy:
- Stronger Businesses: Entrepreneurs will have the support they need to grow and innovate.
- Job Creation: New and growing businesses will create jobs and drive economic development.
- Increased Investment: Ethiopia will become a more attractive destination for private sector investment.
On May 15, As part of the MS4G initiative, this one-day event aims to boost the efficiency of support organizations for Ethiopian entrepreneurs, address challenges, and unlock opportunities within the country’s business landscape.
Through public local and regional ecosystem convening events, ANDE will facilitate connections and collaboration on critical topics, such as access to finance, market-entry, business support best practices, digitalization, talent development, resilient food systems, youth entrepreneurship, and other essential issues.
Join us in supporting Ethiopia’s entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a business, investor, or supporter of economic development, there’s a place for you in this exciting initiative.
