Innovative Finance For Ethiopian Women Entrepreneurs (IF-WE)

This project aims to create an improved discriminatory free and supportive environment in which Ethiopian women's businesses thrive. Project activities include: (1) designing and providing business support services that build women entrepreneurs social and emotional skills. This includes confidence decision-making leadership and negotiation; (2) designing and providing gender-sensitive business support services to generate more opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia to link to customers and suppliers; and (3) designing and assisting banks in rolling out financial products (e.g. credit savings insurance and payments products) that serve female entrepreneurs unique needs. The project is implemented in five regions across Ethiopia and aims to benefit 25 000 women.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased decision-making control over resources and leadership by women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia; (2) increased provision of innovative financial services and products by financial institutions that address the gender-based discriminatory barriers for Ethiopian women entrepreneurs; and (3) increased gender-responsive policymaking and resource allocation by government donor and private firms to effectively support women entrepreneur's livelihood activities in Ethiopia.