About Enterprise Partners
Enterprise Partners (EP) was a UKaid-funded programme implemented by DAI, employing the Market Systems Development approach in six sectors in Ethiopia from 2013 to 2020. It formed the major component of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (formerly DFID)’s flagship Private Enterprise Programme in Ethiopia (PEPE) implemented by DAI and a consortium of partners including First Consult, Itad, Enclude and BCaD.
The programme worked to change the way that markets work for the poor so that poor people were included in the benefits of growth and economic development as consumers, employees and investors. In each sector and sub-sector, Enterprise Partners identified key constraints and developed socially and environmentally sensitive strategies to transform markets by working with industry actors to introduce better business models.
Enterprise Partners worked through two major pillars:
- Agro-Industry: In three of the government priority sectors – garments, leather and horticulture.
- Access to Finance: strengthening financial systems for increased investments for small, medium, and large enterprises as well as promoting private equity and foreign direct investment.
Enterprise Partners’ work resulted in jobs created and improved incomes for poor people, primarily women. The goal was to make an impact by facilitating the creation of 45,000 jobs (75% female) and increasing the income for 65,000 poor households.
Supported the creation of
48,861
jobs
Increased the incomes of
28,292
people by at least 20%
Generated GBP
294,700,000
in investment in priority sectors (garments, leather and horticulture)
Changed practice in
143
firms
Increased the number of people with access to finance services by
105,878
Theory of Change
Base of Pyramid
