UN Women and and partners are contributing to the economic empowerment of vulnerable women in Ethiopia

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Six years ago, Shume Ulfina, 24, came from Ambo; a rural town, in west Shewa zone of Oromia region, to Legetafo; a small town in the outskirts of Addis Ababa seeking employment opportunities. She was employed as a laborer in a private construction company with a monthly wage of 750 birr ($30). Her husband, Misgana Berecha, whom she met at work has similar story as hers. With better work experience, Misgana used to earn 1200 birr ($50). Despite the intensive labour work, their income never met their basic needs, even declined when she left her job to give birth to their first child and couldn’t go back to the same job as a temporary worker.

Shume and her husband, Misgana in the land with some of the vegetables they harvested after UN Women’s support.
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“When the local government called unemployed youth to engage in self-employment activities, my husband and I enthusiastically registered with a desire to change our lives. Through that, 1000 m/0.1 hectare of land was leased to us, but we neither had the financial resources to clean up the land nor the basic skills to start gardening for income generation.”

Seeing her need, a family friend directed Shume to one of UN Women’s partners in Ethiopia, the Organization for Women in Self Employment (WISE) and things started to change. “First, I took part in a ten-day training on life skill and basic business skills that I practically apply in managing the land and household duties collaboratively with my husband. I then became a member of the cooperative and qualified to borrow 3,000 birr (55 USD). Adding the 1,500 birr given to me as allowance during the training, we managed to clean up the land, purchase basic tools, vegetable seeds and other inputs for planting, my husband and I were hardly seen out of the farmstead, taking care of it with a passion to see the result.” Shume added.

When the cooperative called for a business plan competition for cash awards, Shume applied on expansion of the vegetable plantation and won first place; with 40,000 birr (850 USD). This helped them to continue providing inputs for better management of the land including a power generator for irrigation, which enabled them to access water from the nearby stream.

Shume with some chard/kosta she collected for sale from the garden, while her husband, Misgana (at the back) with the carrots, follows her
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“We are now at the beginning of harvesting and selling stage. In the last two weeks alone, we sold vegetables worth over 6,000 birr. When we fully start to supply retailers, this will keep growing. Our aim is to expand as the land has the potential for beehive keeping and establishment of a recreational facility next to the water stream. Because it is close to the main road, we believe it will attract the public.” Shume concluded.

Emebet Gashaw, an internally displaced mother of two in Legetafo is another woman reached by the ISEE Project. Emebet was in Jijiga, Somali region preparing to take matriculation exam in 2018 when, a conflict erupted in the region. She had to leave the city with other displaced people.

After moving to internally displaced settlement in Legetafo, Emebet started selling Injera, the staple diet in the country, using cash provided by the government. As a new site, demand was very high, and she was succeeding until she fell ill which made her to take a break. “By the time I felt better, many women have already started to sell Injera and I switched to keeping chicken for eggs. While I was using some of the money I saved from selling the eggs, I heard about the support being given by Women in Self Employment (WISE) and registered.

Emebet with her two kids at their current home.
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After registering at WISE, Emebet first took a ten-day training including on basic business and life skills, followed by a 3,000-birr (55 USD) loan as well as a cash award of 30,000-birr (545 USD) for the business plan she presented, applying the skill attained. She opened a retail shop with consumers’ goods. Using the skill gained, she also diversified the business by reviving the chicken keeping and aiming to add charcoal trade so as not to take the risk of depending on one, which she thinks has contributed to her failures in the past.

Emebet serves a customer at the retail shop she opened after the support by UN Women.
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Emebet underlined that beyond the financial service, the training has benefited her more. “In the past business activities I tried, money wasn’t a big challenge as my parents had the capacity to provide. I think one of the reasons for failing was a lack of skill to manage. The training on life skills was even more beneficial; after all, whatever we do is to properly live and if we do not have the skill to better live in whatever circumstances, holding a university degree alone may not always bring success.”

Mr. Djaleta, ISEE Project Manager, was in a discussion with some of the project beneficiaries. (Photo: UN Women/Geleta Kedir)
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According to Mr. Djaleta Berhanu, project manager for Integrated and Sustainable Economic Empowerment Initiative (ISEE), the project’s approach has not only unleashed the potential of people like Shume and her husband, it also assists to identify the gaps and the support they need for expansion. “I believe that everyone has a potential to make a living if timely skill and access to finance is provided. I believe to sustain the results from this project and to expand, their urban irrigation farming requires more training and technical assistance. As the project manager, I am committed to constantly providing support to them and others to achieve their Economic Empowerment goals.”

Regarding the project’s relevant approach in making a difference on the targeted women’s lives,Ms. Meseret Birhanu, Head of Legetafo -Legedadhi sub city’s Women and Social Affairs said, “We have many development partners working on Women and Social Affairs, but I have a unique appreciation for the ISEE project. It targets disadvantaged women who have financial and psychosocial challenges. It addresses the women’s challenges by equipping them with wholistic skill to change themselves with confidence and determination. This should be strengthened and continued to reach out more women.”

Integrated and Sustainable Economic Empowerment Initiative (ISEE) Project, implemented by the Organization for Women in Self Employment (WISE) in collaboration with UN Women, facilitates provision of basic business and life skills trainings to enable women generate business ideas, assess their businesses, limitations and opportunities in their locality while equipping them with life skill trainings for effective communication, problem-solving, self-esteem, and effective teamwork.

ISEE project, implemented since 2021, has reached over 800 beneficiaries is funded by UN Women Strategic Note (2021-2025) donors: Government of Netherlands, Government of Norway, and Government of Sweden.