2022 to 2027
Partner
Mastercard Foundation
Sector
Manufacturing and Agriculture
Target
72,200 enterprises and 410,800 jobs
Regions
All regions of Ethiopia, other than Addis Ababa
MESMER is a five-year countrywide programme implemented by FC in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS). In alignment with the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, the Programme aims to create dignified and fulfilling work for young women.
MESMER partnered with four banks – Awash, Bank of Abyssinia, Dashen, and Hibret Bank to unlock access to finance opportunities for young people and women leveraging on guarantee and liquidity fund availed by the Programme and proportional matching fund by the partner banks. More than 8 MFIs are currently engaged in the programme under the wholesale facility modality facilitated with the partner banks.
Strategic Focus Areas
MESMER goes beyond financing to deliver a comprehensive support model that addresses the multifaceted needs of MSMEs. The programme focuses on four core pillars:
- Access to finance: Facilitate credit to MSMEs through portfolio risk sharing approach with partner banks and facilitate recovery grant to informal enterprises in conflict affected areas, to support enterprise growth and resilience.
- Business Development Services (BDS): Tailored enterprise support that strengthens operational capacity and financial literacy, improves productivity, and enhances growth potential for MSMEs.
- Psychosocial Support (PSS): Services aimed at improving entrepreneurs’ mental well-being and resilience, recognizing the human dimension of enterprise development.
- Technical Assistance to Financial Institutions: Capacity building for banks, microfinance institutions, and digital financial service providers to better serve the MSME segment and expand access to finance.
Target achievement to date
76,692
Enterprises supported through credit, BDS, PSS and recovery grant
654,162
Individuals reached through the various services provided
344,622
Youth employment supported, out of which 60% are for young women
35,095
Enterprises accessed credit from partner banks promoting financial inclusion where 2,218 enterprises accessed interest free financing (sharia-complaint financing).
ETB 3.8 Billion
(> 41million USD) credit facilitated for MSMEs with healthy credit portfolio )
18 Partners
4 Partner Banks, 8 Microfinance Institutions and 6 Business Development Providers supporting MSMEs accross Ethiopia
Other Publications
Interest-Free Banking in Ethiopia – An Analysis of Product Offerings and Market Adoption
Restoring Resilience: MESMER Programme Concludes First Phase of Psychosocial Support
