Improving productivity and employment opportunities along agricultural value chains in rural Ethiopia

Context

Ethiopia has a population of 120 million and a population growth rate of 2.6 per cent. Over 50 million people are younger than 15 years old and expected to enter the labour market in the coming years. To meet this demand, at least two million additional jobs need to be created every year. Improving Ethiopia’s agricultural sector and rural economy, including through private-sector development, provides good opportunities for job creation. At the same time, private-sector-led agricultural development is key to increasing agricultural productivity, climate change resilience and food security.  

Objective

Rural employment, agricultural production and food security are improving in Ethiopia.

Approach

The project aims to:

• Improve dialogue mechanisms between the government and the private sector in the agribusiness area.
• Advise and promote the necessary capabilities in the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) to develop private-sector-oriented agricultural policies.
• Increase the strategic, technical and management skills of regional bureaus of agriculture and other actors to promote rural economic development.
• Improve access to agricultural inputs, services and markets for actors along the avocado, onion and soybean value chain.

Last update: August 2023