From Hive to Global Markets: Transforming Ethiopia’s Honey Value Chain Through Skills, Quality, and Inclusion

At dawn in the highlands of Jimma, the air is cool and still, broken only by the low, steady hum of bees moving between hives. Ms. Kibe Dame walks carefully along narrow paths, pausing to inspect each hive with practiced attention. For years, this work followed a familiar rhythm—harvest, sell locally, and hope for a fair price. What happened to her honey after it left her hands was largely unknown, and opportunities beyond the local market felt distant.

That reality began to shift the day she stood alongside processors and community leaders to sign an agreement that would send Ethiopian honey far beyond Jimma—to international markets. For Ms. Dame, representing 150 beekeepers from Gera Woreda, the moment marked not only a business milestone, but a turning point in how her work—and her community’s work—was valued.

In April 2024 , a business agreement signing ceremony in Jimma formalized the export of 90 tons of honey and beeswax. The event reflected a broader transformation within Ethiopia’s honey sector, driven by improvements in quality standards, skills development, and market access.

This progress is supported by the Global Market Access Programme (GMAP) Ethiopia, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The initiative focuses on strengthening quality compliance, enhancing technical capacity, and building linkages between producers, processors and international markets.

Through targeted training on improved beekeeping practices, quality assurance, pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest handling, producers like Ms. Dame have upgraded their production methods. These improvements are enabling honey to meet international requirements, opening access to export markets and increasing income opportunities.

The impact of these efforts is becoming increasingly visible across Jimma Zone. Over the past three years, honey exports have shown notable progress—starting from 15 tons in 2023 and growing significantly after 2024, with a combined total of 216 tons exported between 2024 and 2026. This growth reflects both improved production capacity and stronger integration into formal markets.

Beyond individual producers, the project emphasizes knowledge sharing and community-level transformation. In Yayo Woreda, training enabled one woman beekeeper to apply improved techniques and share them with her household and neighboring farmers. This exchange of knowledge has contributed to better production practices and increased yields across the community.

“Through the training I received under the UNIDO GMAP Ethiopia project, I have significantly improved the quality of my honey. I now better understand good beekeeping practices, harvesting techniques, and how to meet market requirements. As a result, I have been able to connect with local exporters and prepare my products for international markets. I am supplying honey for export, which represents an important step forward for me and the beekeepers I represent," says Ms. Dame.

Beekeeping, once considered a supplementary activity, is increasingly seen as a viable climate smart agriculture and a reliable source of income. With improved hive management, producers can harvest multiple times a year while maintaining flexibility to engage in other agricultural activities, strengthening household resilience.

Environmental sustainability is also a central component of the initiative. By promoting responsible beekeeping practices, the project supports biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use, ensuring that increased production aligns with environmental protection.

In addition to training, the programme provides practical tools, including illustrated guides on best practices and essential beekeeping equipment. These interventions reinforce quality standards and support long-term sector development.

A strong focus is placed on the inclusion of women, recognizing their role in production and community leadership. By improving access to training and market opportunities, the initiative contributes to more equitable participation across the value chain.

The Jimma agreement represents more than a commercial milestone. It reflects a broader shift in how Ethiopia’s honey sector is structured—linking smallholder producers to global markets through improved systems, standards, and collaboration.

As Ms. Dame returns to her hives, the familiar hum carries new meaning. What was once a local livelihood is now connected to a wider network of opportunity—where quality, knowledge, and access are reshaping the future of beekeeping in Ethiopia.