Empowering Marginal Economic Actors

In line with the overall theme of creating enabling business environment for private sector development in Ethiopia, the project aims to:

  • Empower marginalized groups and communities to participate effectively in and benefit from economic development and trade
  •  Strengthen the ability of the private sector to engage in effective reform that leads to positive regulatory and policy changes conducive for the Ethiopian private sector at the sub-regional, regional and national levels.

Pillar 1: Empowering Marginal Economic Actors

Empowering Marginal Economic Actors to participate in business environment reform

Pillar 2: Innovative Grants Fund (IGF)

Supporting the financial sustainability of business membership organizations through the Innovative Grants Fund (IGF)

Pillar 3: Public Private Dialogue

Supporting Regional and Federal Public Private Dialogue and evidenced-based policy dialogue.

Pillar 4: Building capacity

Building capacity of national and sub-national business membership organizations to maximize the economic benefits flowing to Ethiopia from the negotiation of the AfCFTA and other free trade agreements

Initiative Africa (IA), Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) and Center for International Private Enterprises (CIPE) formed a consortium to design a program entitled “Empowering Marginal Economic Actors through Policy Reform from the Bottom-Up” which is an initiative intended to improve the business environment for all subsets of the Ethiopian economy. This program mainly focuses on bottom-up reform originating with women entrepreneurs, self-employed youth, and the informal business community in general.

The project is supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) and aims at the creation of a political environment that is increasingly open to private-sector led development and inclusive economic growth.