2013 to 2020
Partner
UK Aid/Department for International Development
Sector
Leather, horticulture, cotton, labour sourcing, access to finance, private sector development
Target
Creating 45,000 jobs (75% female) and increasing the incomes of 65,000 poor households.
Regional Presence
National-level, 10 regions of Ethiopia
From 2013 to 2020, Enterprise Partners (EP) played a transformative role in shaping Ethiopia’s private sector landscape. Funded by UKaid and implemented by DAI in partnership with FC (Ethiopia), Itad (UK), Enclude (Netherlands), and BCaD, EP served as the flagship initiative of the UK’s Private Enterprise Programme Ethiopia (PEPE) and a bold commitment to market systems as a pathway to inclusive economic growth.
At a time when Ethiopia was beginning to embrace the private sector as a key development driver, EP emerged as a catalyst for change. The programme reimagined how markets could work for people, especially women and low-income communities, not simply as recipients but as active participants and economic agents.
Strategic Focus Areas
EP focused on two core areas:
Agro-Industrial Development: EP zeroed in on Ethiopia’s high-potential sectors including textiles, leather, and horticulture to drive inclusive growth.
In cotton and textiles, EP improved production systems and helped strengthen workforce pipelines, including support to the Hawassa Industrial Park, poised to create over 60,000 jobs.
. In leather and livestock, EP worked with tanneries and producers to move up the value chain and tap into export markets with finished leather goods.
. In fruits and vegetables, the programme helped producers grow, process, and export high-value crops, opening doors to global markets.
Access to Finance: EP pushed the boundaries of financial inclusion, bringing modern services to underserved communities.
. Supported the rollout of digital banking, mobile money, and agent banking
. Enabled rural and low-income Ethiopians to access savings, credit, and insurance
. Strengthened banks, MFIs, and leasing firms to better serve SMEs and women-owned businesses
. Partnered with the World Bank to unlock capital through a national credit line
. Attracted foreign direct investment and private equity into agro-industrial sectors to fuel long-term growth
Enterprise Partners worked across Ethiopia, from Oromia to Amhara, Tigray to SNNPR, partnering with regional governments and private sector leaders in both rural and urban areas. Every intervention aligned with national priorities and industrial park strategies.Using a market systems approach, EP tackled systemic challenges and co-created sustainable, inclusive, and climate-conscious business solutions with local actors.
Target Achieved
380,000
Enterprises supported.
30,000
Financial accounts opened through support to the Development Bank of Ethiopia and 12 MFIs
50
Strategic interventions and 25 innovations accross sectors.
380,000
Enterprises accessed credit from partner banks promoting financial inclusion where 2,218 enterprises accessed interest free financing (sharia-complaint financing).
£ 297 Million
Enabled £50 million in loans and unlocked an additional £204 million through a World Bank credit line. Mobilized £43 million in private investment
158 Partners
Collaborated with 158 Public and Private Partners
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
