UN Women’s Integrated economic empowerment initiative enhances women’s economic growth and well-being

Raised by a single mother who struggled to meet ends, she used to help her in labor-intensive domestic work after school. When she reached 9th grade, she dropped out of school and got married since the household’s meager income wasn’t enough for her and two siblings. “I was a homemaker, as a driver, my husband’s income wasn’t sufficient.  Having a child added a burden to our economic condition. Despite trying to do some work outside home as house help and a waitress, life was difficult for me for over twenty years,” she spoke.

As one of the 800 women reached by a UN Women supported project, “Integrated and Sustainable Economic Empowerment Initiative (ISEEI)”, Abeba considered the support provided by the project instrumental for opening a time and labour-saving services business mainly catering to women in her community who cannot afford to buy food processors. 

(From left) Abeba measures and chops onions for one of her customers with the machine she purchased through the project’s support. (Photo: UN Women/Fikerte Abebe)

“After I registered under the project two years ago, I took a ten-day training on basic business and life skill,” Abeba said. “For cash award, I submitted a business plan on provision of labor and time saving food processing service in my village where over 300 households do not have the access.  Through the business plan, I was awarded 25,000birr (500USD). I mobilized the remaining 60,000birr (1,200USD) through saving and credit association and purchased the machine for 85,000birr (1,700USD).  The 20,000 (400USD) loan provided through the project enabled me to cover related costs.” 

“Before the project I was totally dependent on my husband, but, today, I have 300,000 Birr (USD 2,700) capital. Every month I save 2000 (USD 18) through Equb. From the total 20,000 Birr (USD 400) loan I borrowed, only 6,000 Birr (54 USD) is remained to be paid back,” Abeba said. 

For Fayine Geleta, 38, another woman reached by ISEEI project, a desire to engage in a business began while she was still in school. She used to sell fruits without the knowledge of her family. “I was always engaged in some form of businesses.  After getting married and giving birth, I was selling spices, grains, cooking butter and honey that contributes to the family’s income.  When my husband got sick, I became the bread winner. Despite spending more time and energy on my business to fully support the family, the income was never enough to cover the expenses,” she spoke. 

Fayine takes care of the sheep she fattens for sale.

Fayine said the project was vital in helping her build a successful business, “Before the project, my capital didn’t rise beyond 6000birr(116USD). Today it is around 300,000(4815USD). The support from the project is a turning point in mine and my family’s livelihoods. My only wish is if I had joined it earlier as I can imagine how much more successful my efforts could have been.” 

Ms. Meseret Berhanu chairwoman of the women and children affairs office in Legetafo said that the project, which has so far reached over 800 women directly and further provided relevant trainings to more than 4000 women, has been influential in improving the lives of women with low-income, their families and communities. 

Ms. Yiftusira Mulugeta, leader of women’s Saving and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), where women are organized to access services by the project, reiterates Ms Meseret’s testimony saying, “The women are not only meeting theirs and their families’ immediate basic needs in better ways, being members of Saving and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), their financial resource is sustained with the skill to manage it.” 

UN Women’s Integrated and Sustainable Economic Empowerment Initiative (ISEEI) Project,  being  implemented in partnership with Women in Self Employment (WISE), with funding from the Governments of the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden as part of the Strategic Note (2021-25) , facilitates provision of  business skill development initiatives and access to finance to enable women generate business ideas and opportunities in their locality while equipping them with life and leadership skills for  problem-solving, self-esteem, and  teamwork.