EDI Empowers 228 Young Women with Entrepreneurship and Business Skills

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the Addis Ababa City Administration’s Lenegewa Women's Rehabilitation and Skills Development Center, has equipped 228 underserved young women in Addis Ababa with high-impact entrepreneurship and business development skills.

The four-day intensive training (March 3–6), delivered through the SEED program, serves as a critical milestone in the participants' transition to economic independence. These young women previously completed five months of technical vocational training and psychosocial support at the center.

By integrating EDI's business curriculum with the center’s holistic support, the program aims to shift participants from economic exclusion to a mindset of self-reliance, enabling them to launch and manage productive, sustainable, and profitable micro-enterprises.

Following their graduation, the young women are set to drive local economic growth by launching businesses in greenery development and poultry farming, backed by ongoing structural support from the Addis Ababa City Administration.

Speaking at the completion ceremony, EDI Deputy CEO Mr. Boru Shana emphasized the institute’s commitment to the long-term success of the graduates. He noted that EDI will continue to provide Business Development Services (BDS) and facilitate access to finance, ensuring these new entrepreneurs can grow and sustain their businesses.

Dr. Hirpasa Chala, Director General of the Lenegewa Center, expressed his deep appreciation for the collaboration, stating that empowering young women is a catalyst for the broader development of the city and the country. He highlighted the importance of institutionalizing this partnership, noting that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed to formalize future collaboration between the center and EDI.

This initiative reflects a transformative approach to economic empowerment. By combining technical expertise, psychological well-being, and entrepreneurial training, EDI and its partners are creating pathways for young women toward economic independence. As these 228 graduates transition into the local economy as business owners, they embody the power of strategic partnerships in enhancing dignified livelihoods and national growth.