UN Women, partners contributing to economic empowerment of vulnerable women 

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 1,200 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 being on a temporary worker.

“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 the self-employment initiative, 1000 m2/0.1 hectare land was leased to us, but we neither had financial resource 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, 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 the household duties collaboratively with my husband.  I then became member of the cooperative and qualified to borrow 3,000birr(55USD). Adding the 1,500birr 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 award, Shume applied on expansion of the vegetable plantation and won the first place; 40,000birr(850USD).  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. 

“We are now at the beginning of harvesting and selling stage. In the last two weeks alone, we sold vegetables worth over 6,0000birr. When we fully start to supply retailers, this will keep growing.   Our aim is to expand as the land has the potential for beehives keeping and establishment of a recreational facility next to the water stream. Being 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 women 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.

After registering at WISE, Emebet first took a ten-day training including on basic business and life skills followed by 3,000birr( 55USD ) loan as well as a cash award; 30,000birr(545USD) 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 chickens 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 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 lack of skill to manage. The training on life skill 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 a success.”

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, but 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 sustaining and expanding the results of this urban irrigation farming project requires more training and technical assistance. As a Project Manager, I am committed to constantly providing the support to them and others to achieve their economic empowerment goals.”

Regarding the project’s 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 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: the Government of Netherlands, Government of Norway and Government of Sweden.