Case Studies from the Sida Project in Ethiopia

Case Studies | CIPE East Africa Regional Office in Addis Ababa

Sida Project Case Studies

Following a COVID-19 impact assessment in Ethiopia, CIPE established a revolving loan fund to benefit marginal economic actors – specifically women-owned businesses – to recover from the devastating consequences of the economic downturn triggered by the pandemic. To close the widening finance gap for struggling communities, CIPE is currently engaging with business membership organizations (BMOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) in Amhara, Oromia, Somali, and Benishangul-Gumuz.  

In Amhara, CIPE identified the Amhara Women Entrepreneurs Association (AWEA) as its partner based on its active engagement with marginal economic actors and experience in managing saving and credit programs. Beginning in December 2020, CIPE directly disbursed $70,000 to AWEA, and through its saving and credit cooperatives, AWEA has provided loans to 74 marginal economic actors in six cities of the region (Bahir Dar, Gondar, Dessie, Debre Markos, Motta, and Finote Selam). 

In the Oromia region, CIPE East Africa identified three Saving and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) to partner with. The Iwuket Ber, Idigat Chora, and Rohobot SACCOs were selected based on their active engagement with marginalized economic actors and their experiences managing saving and credit programs. CIPE disbursed $20,000 to each of the above-mentioned SACCOs. These SACCOs provided loans to 209 beneficiaries based out of two cities in the Oromia region, Adama and Burayu.

In the Somali region, CIPE partnered with Barwaqo and disbursed $40,000 to it, beginning in March 2022. Barwaqo used the funds to provide loans to 115 marginal economic actors in the Somali regional capital, Jigjiga. 

In Benishangul Gumuz, CIPE identified Ehitimamachoch as its partner based on its active engagement with marginal economic actors and experience in managing saving and credit programs. Beginning in August 2021, CIPE directly disbursed $40,000 to Ehitimamachoch SACCO, which provided loans to 119 marginal economic actors in the Benishangul Gumuz regional capital, Assosa. This series of case stories highlights some of the experiences of the loan beneficiaries. 

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Published Date: January 25, 2022