‘EMPOWER’ project launched to boost livelihoods for women and youth in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, March 18, 2025 (FMC) – The “EMPOWER: Empowering Futures for Youth and Women Beyond Agriculture” project was launched earlier today in Addis Ababa, focusing on equipping women and youth with essential tools to thrive in Ethiopia’s rural and disaster-affected regions of Afar, Tigray, and Oromia.

Funded by the European Union, the project is set to be implemented by People in Need (PIN) in collaboration with Ayuda en Acción (AeA) and the Development Expertise Center (DEC).

The initiative will directly benefit many youth and women by providing training in technical skills, including beekeeping, dairy production, animal fattening, poultry farming, and soybean cultivation. It will also establish 140 small and micro-enterprises (SMEs) and link them with financial services and national and export markets.

During the launch event held at Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, it was indicated that the project aims to impact 1.6 million people across the three regions.

The project will also provide training through 11 TVET colleges in the target regions, offering green technology and apprenticeship training to help participants build their skills and capacity.

It was mentioned that this comprehensive approach aims to create sustainable livelihoods, reduce dependency on traditional agriculture, and provide new opportunities for the youth and women in these areas.

 In an exclusive interview with Fana Media Corporation, Mr. Eyasu Elias, Ethiopia’s State Minister for Agriculture, emphasized that the EMPOWER project aligns with the country’s efforts to address land degradation and climate change through the Green Legacy Initiative.

Assuring the Ethiopian government’s full support to the implementation of the project, he highlighted the importance of providing alternative livelihoods in Tigray, Oromia, and Afar regions.

According to him, the project also integrates with community watershed user cooperatives, utilizing restored landscapes to create market opportunities.

State Minister Eyasu cited the example of Tikldingay town, Central Gondar, where youth groups are already exporting honey to Italy and Israel through beekeeping.

Mr. Berhanu Demissie, Executive Director of DEC, noted the project’s focus on gender inclusion and environmental protection, aiming to enhance resilience in the target regions.

He highlighted key value chains such as honey, poultry, dairy, livestock, and soybeans, which will be further developed through the project.

Mr. Fikru Hailegiorgis, Consortium Lead for EMPOWER and a Staff Member of People In Need (PIN), explained that the project will help organize youth and women into SMEs, linking them to market access, financial services, and private sector partners.

According to him, this will provide participants with the opportunity to scale their businesses, reaching both national and international markets.

The launch event saw participation from various Ethiopian officials, private sector leaders such as EthioChicken, Promasidor, and Dedessa Agro Industry, and international partners like the EU Delegation and the Czech Development Agency.

Regarding the launch of the project, Sofie From-Emmesberger, EU Ambassador to Ethiopia, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, emphasizing that the project will empower women and youth, fostering long-term economic independence and climate resilience.

The EMPOWER project consortium consists of People in Need (PIN), the lead implementing organization, responsible for the Oromia region; Ayuda en Acción (AeA), implementing in Afar; and the Development Expertise Center (DEC), which will lead efforts in Tigray.

The project will be carried out across 16 woredas and 7 zones in the three target regions, it was indicated.