Rebuild Her Business - More than 750 female-led businesses to benefit in northern Ethiopia

Crowdfunding Campaign

March 28, 2024

28 March 2024, Addis Ababa: More than 750 women-led businesses impacted by the conflict in Afar, Amhara, and Tigray will receive support from resources mobilized through a UNDP crowdfunding campaign in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs and the Great Ethiopian Run (GER).

UNDP, with fundraising implemented by GER, and with further contributions from the Ethiopia Diaspora Trust Fund (EDTF), the Japanese government, and other individuals secured $388,922.37 to support approximately 775 women out of an initial target of 1000 women-led business in the Rebuild Her Business crowdfunding campaign.

GER raised USD$50,000 (ETB 2,752,409.00) from its annual charity campaign known as “Running For A Cause” as part of its international 10km road race; USD $50,000 came from the Ethiopia Diaspora Trust Fund (EDTF), a non-for-profit organization incorporated in the USA that creates a powerful connection between those in need in Ethiopia with the diaspora; $288,500 from Japan Government and $1,816 (ETB 109,060.86f) from individual contributors.

State Minister Alemitu Umut (Women and Children's Affairs), State Minister Huria Ali Mahdi (Social Affairs), Dagmawit Amare (GER Managing Director), Minister Ergogie Tesfaye (Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Mr Samuel G. Doe (UNDP Ethiopia Resident Representative)

“Rebuild Her Business generated one of our best ever responses to our annual charity campaign,” commented Dagmawit Amare, Managing Director of GER. “With our races we are always trying to bring communities together and promote development. These funds will help hundreds of women whose work is vital both to their own families and communities. We are delighted with the results of this initiative.”

Each businesswoman will receive US$500 to support her business and will also access training on entrepreneurship. The women’s recovery will be the visible face of a society that is on the road to healing. The selection criteria of beneficiaries are finalized and UNDP in collaboration with MoWSA and the woreda-level sector offices will begin the selection of beneficiaries.

“Through the campaign we are giving everyone a chance to participate. Helping women rebuild their businesses is a catalyst for helping communities get back on their feet. Economic recovery, bringing back jobs and livelihoods, will help us strengthen the foundation for sustainable peace. Accelerating the re-establishment of trade links will help rebuild trust and re-knot the ties between one group and another”, says Mr Samuel Doe, UNDP Ethiopia’s Resident Representative.

H.E. Ergogie Tesfaye (PhD), Minister of the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, extended her heartfelt appreciation to UNDP, the Great Run Ethiopia Office, and all partners for their unwavering commitment and support. She stated, "Let us seize this momentum to usher in a new era of collaboration and empowerment where women are not merely survivors but thriving leaders driving positive change in their communities and society."

Furthermore, she noted, "We recognize the contributions of women entrepreneurs to the local economy and their potential as catalysts for positive change. However, we are also cognizant of the barriers and hurdles they face, particularly in conflict-affected regions where access to resources and opportunities is scarce. Through this project, we endeavor to systematically contribute to addressing the challenges and creating an enabling environment for women to succeed in their careers."

The implementation and future expansion of the campaign will be supported by the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between UNDP and the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs during the handover event.

Therefore, the Minister emphasized, "The memorandum of understanding that we entered with UNDP today marks a pivotal moment in our journey towards a more inclusive Ethiopia, outlining our shared objectives to design program initiatives jointly to benefit women and youth through various empowerment avenues. This partnership also lays the groundwork for future strong collaborations and reaffirms our mutual commitment to advancing gender equality, fostering inclusive growth, and addressing the unique obstacles women entrepreneurs encounter in the three conflict-affected regions."

The campaign complements a wider intervention within the UNDP-managed multi-partner Peace Support programme for the three regions. The programme, currently supported by the Governments of Germany and Japan, is part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen the nexus between humanitarian, peace, and development.

About the Campaign
"Rebuild HER Business" is a crowdfunding initiative by UNDP Ethiopia to support the peace and recovery efforts in Norther Ethiopia. The campaign had a goal to raise $500,000 USD to support 1000 women Led business that have been affected by the conflict in Tigray, Afar and Amhara. The campaign was officially launched on August 17th, 2023, in partnership with the Great Ethiopian Run (GER) via their "Run for a Cause" initiative in the presence of the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs in connection to the international 10km that is held annually in Addis Ababa.

About UNDP
UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

Media enquiries: Communication.et@undp.org and Hilina Negussie hilina@ethiopianrun.org