Strengthening Digitization and Entrepreneurship Skills among Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) for Accelerating Progress towards SDGs in Ethiopia

Background
Documentation

Background

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) contribute to the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels. In Ethiopia, MSMEs can play crucial roles in accelerating progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with national needs and circumstances as spelled out in the Industrial Development Road Map (2013 -2025) and the “Ethiopia 2030: The Pathway to Prosperity Ten Years Perspective Development Plan (2021 – 2030)”. Despite their noted contributions to SDGs, MSMEs, especially women and youth-owned enterprises in Ethiopia, have been hit the hardest by the negative socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Returning the economy to its high growth trajectory requires focusing on sectors with high productivity and job creation potentials, including strengthening MSME digitization and entrepreneurship skills to elevate MSME growth and resilience towards external shocks and access to investment and market opportunities.

This workshop is organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Ethiopia. The workshop aims to strengthen capacities of policymakers at national and sub-national levels tasked with supporting formalization, growth and resilience of MSMEs; elevate digitization and entrepreneurship skills among MSME entrepreneurs, especially women and youth entrepreneurs, to access investment and market opportunities. The workshop will train 50 participants, including national policymakers, sub-national MSME supporting officers and MSME entrepreneurs, who will be tasked by the government to train more MSME supporting officers and entrepreneurs across the country.

Group photo 1