Across Ethiopia, entrepreneurship is fast becoming a cornerstone of economic growth and the Sustainable Employment through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development (SEED) Program has emerged as one of its most significant drivers. Since its launch two years ago, SEED has unlocked over Birr 2.2 billion for more than 10,000 enterprises, offering both capital and opportunity to innovators and small businesses nationwide. Anchored by the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, the program represents a bold investment in financial inclusion, skills development and ecosystem building that is reshaping the future of enterprise in Ethiopia.
The milestone achieved is a powerful reminder that meaningful progress is possible when institutions work together to address long-standing barriers for entrepreneurs. For years, access to finance has been one of the greatest hurdles for small businesses and startups across the country. By working with the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), SEED has tackled this challenge head-on, ensuring that entrepreneurs are not left behind simply because they cannot access the capital they need to grow.
Of the total disbursement, more than Birr 2.19 billion was made available as loans to 9,920 new and existing enterprises. This capital has allowed business owners to purchase equipment, expand operations and create new jobs, steps that directly fuel community development and national growth. For many, the loans provided under SEED have been the first real opportunity to scale beyond survival and build a sustainable business.
Yet, the program does not stop at loans. Recognizing that startups often require a different form of support to take bold ideas to market, SEED strategically allocated Birr 67.7 million in grants to 300 innovative startups. These grants have allowed young innovators to test disruptive ideas, explore market potential and invest in the kind of risk-taking that drives long-term transformation. By combining loans with grants, SEED has been able to serve both the stability of existing enterprises and the bold vision of new ones, striking a balance between immediate impact and future opportunity.
But what makes SEED stand out is its holistic approach. The program understands that money alone cannot solve all the challenges entrepreneurs face. That is why its design goes far beyond financing. SEED has been instrumental in transforming Technical and Vocational Training institutions, embedding entrepreneurship into the education system and equipping young people with the skills needed to succeed in a competitive economy. It has also worked to improve the broader environment for entrepreneurship nationwide, ensuring that businesses operate in conditions where they can thrive.
At the heart of this work is the Entrepreneurship Development Institute. EDI’s role as both an enabler and a leader in the ecosystem has been central to the program’s success. Through its integrated approach, EDI provides support that ranges from entrepreneurship education and skills training to specialized programs for high-growth SMEs and startups. It engages not only individuals but also private and public institutions, ensuring that the support structure for entrepreneurs is strong at every level.
EDI’s mission stretches across multiple fronts: building inclusive entrepreneurship programs that give opportunities to underrepresented communities, designing and implementing innovation initiatives for corporate and government organizations and facilitating access to finance for enterprises that have historically struggled to secure it. These efforts are not only lifting individuals out of poverty but also laying the groundwork for wealth creation and sustainable economic growth.
The program has also emphasized the importance of building communities within the ecosystem. By fostering networks and collaborations, SEED ensures that entrepreneurs are not isolated but part of a broader movement, one where knowledge and resources are shared, and collective progress is prioritized. This community-driven approach is helping to establish a culture where entrepreneurship is seen as a viable and respected path to prosperity.
As SEED celebrates its two-year milestone, its achievements speak volumes. More than 10,000 enterprises have benefited, billions of birr have been invested and thousands of jobs have been created or sustained. But beyond the numbers, the program has instilled hope and confidence in Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial community. It has shown that with the right combination of capital, skills and ecosystem support, entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for national development.
This moment is not just about reflecting on what has been accomplished but about looking forward. SEED has set a foundation for what Ethiopia’s future could look like, a future where small businesses thrive, startups scale globally and entrepreneurship becomes a central driver of economic resilience. By unlocking opportunity at scale, the program is proving that Ethiopia’s next chapter will be written by its entrepreneurs, supported by institutions that believe in their power to transform society.
