Restoring Hope and Resilience

Restoring Hope and Resilience documents lessons from the MESMER programme in Ethiopia, showing how integrating psychosocial support into enterprise development strengthens recovery in conflict-affected settings. Many MSME owners face significant psychological distress that limits their ability to rebuild livelihoods, yet traditional support systems focus mainly on finance and skills. By sequencing psychosocial support before business development services and access to finance, the programme helped entrepreneurs regain confidence, manage stress, and re-engage with their businesses. Evidence from implementation shows improvements in mental wellbeing, business readiness, and resilience, demonstrating that addressing wellbeing is a critical foundation for sustainable economic recovery.