Kieran Doherty / Oxfam
Ethiopia
The SME sector in Ethiopia is recognized as an essential component of economic development and a crucial element in the effort to eradicate poverty in Ethiopia. SME development is the primary strategy of the government to expand employment and reduce poverty, particularly focusing on women and youths (NPC, 2016). The government of Ethiopia proposed SMEs as a means of creating employment for millions of youths and achieving sustainable development goals. According to a recent national study, the total number of micro and small enterprises operating in Ethiopia in 2020/21 has increased to 115,200 from 111,547 and the sector creates employment opportunities for 1.3 million people in the country. The Enterprise Programme in Ethiopia currently works with Mela For Her (MFH) which is engaged in the production of reusable sanitary pads and Asosa Union which is an enterprise involved in edible oil production
ASOSA
Asosa Union who produce edible oil from Niger seeds is one of the oldest portfolio enterprises in Ethiopia’s EDP program. The country team has conducted its evaluations and the following impacts have been achieved since Asosa Union Oxfam started workign with them: more than 20,00 people (32% women) have directly benefited from the program, membership has grown by over 17,00, 6,380 women have joined the union (increasing women’s membership from 2.4% to 32%), the percentage of jobs occupied by women from the total factory’s workforce and in fulltime work are 19% and 41.7% respectively, the board now comprises of 30% women and the management team is now 40% women.
Mela For Her
The partnership with Oxfam is helping MFH to boost its production capacity of reusable sanitary pads by 500% through the procurement of essential machinery and supply of regular raw materials. Overall, the production, sales and profit of the business is steadily increasing compared to prior years, From January to June 2023, MFH sold nearly ten times the number of products than during the same period in 2022. The enterprise is directly helping around 100,000 women and girls by giving them access to safe, affordable and reusable sanitary pad.
In 2022, the enterprises supported by the programme in Ethiopia reached almost 23,000 farmers and have increased their revenues 5 fold since joining the programme.