Women Entrepreneurs Graduate from EDI-AICS Leather Program

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), in partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), reached a key stage in its project delivery on December 19, 2025, in Addis Ababa, as 35 women entrepreneurs graduated from a specialized leather products manufacturing program.

Hosted at Lideta Manufacturing College, the ceremony recognized the completion of a 45-day intensive training course, marking the second cohort to benefit from this strategic bilateral initiative.

The curriculum provided participants with comprehensive technical training, covering the entire production cycle from initial design and precision cutting to stitching and final product finishing.

This end-to-end approach is designed to enable micro-entrepreneurs to maintain full oversight of product quality and value addition, ensuring their output meets market standards.

During the graduation ceremony government officials emphasized the importance of institutional support for small businesses.

Lideta Manufacturing College Dean, Mr. Teku Taye, pledged that the institution would continue to offer extension services and advanced training to ensure the graduates' businesses remain competitive. Ato Tadele, representing the City Labor and Skills Bureau, noted that the collaboration between Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and the private sector serves as a sustainable model for reducing urban poverty.

Addressing the graduates, EDI representative Ato Mesfin Kinfu highlighted the potential for job creation, stating that the program transforms individual trainees into emerging manufacturing hubs capable of scaling into competitive enterprises. Ato Kaleb Kelemu of AICS reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to strengthening Ethiopian entrepreneurship, noting that enhancing the technical skill sets of women is a direct contribution to the country’s broader sustainable development goals.

The tangible results of the training were evident in the graduates' experiences. Sisaye Solomon, 27, noted that the training converted her interest in the sector into the technical ability to manufacture market-ready goods.

Similarly, Meskerem Tesfaye, a 35-year-old mother of two, expressed her intention to pivot her existing micro-enterprise toward leather production, citing the new skills as a foundation for greater economic independence.

This latest graduation contributes to a project that has consistently exceeded its original performance indicators. To date, the initiative has trained 1,229 women in specialized leather skills, surpassing the initial target of 1,000.

It has also delivered entrepreneurship training to 13,500 women nearly triple the original goal of 5,000 and provided Business Development Services (BDS) to 926 entrepreneurs across 14 cities. By strengthening the operational links between 23 TVET institutions and local entrepreneurs, the EDI and AICS continue to expand the infrastructure for women-led economic growth in Ethiopia.