The Entrepreneurship Development Center (EDC) – Supporting Startups in Ethiopia

The Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) is a quasi-governmental entity established under the framework of the Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP).

EDC has been supporting startups in different parts of the Ethiopia since it’s official launch in February 2013. With its headquarters based in Addis Ababa, it has regional offices in Bishoftu, Hawassa, Bahir Dar and Mekelle.

This innovative entrepreneurship and enterprise development initiative was formulated and introduced to facilitate the realization of the entrepreneurship development goals set in the government’s Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, represented by the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (MoUDHo), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The overall objective of this Programme is to bring about a transformational change in unleashing the growth potential of micro and small-scale enterprises.

The programme aims to identify growth-oriented enterprises as well as potential entrepreneurs, unemployed youth and women nationwide and provide them with direct support to enhance their entrepreneurial skills and competencies to establish and operate profitable, competitive businesses on a sustainable basis.

In view of the vision of entrepreneurship development in the country’s growth agenda, EDC-Ethiopia specifically targets to serve the need of the following people:

• Growth oriented MSEs which have potential to create and develop into formal business sectors.

• Prospective entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, who are interested in starting their own businesses and to develop self-employment

• Medium-sized enterprises pursuing business expansion

• Rural farmers to promote agro-based small businesses

The EDC is currently providing the following services:

1. Trainings

 

EDC provides trainings offered in Amharic, Afaan Oromoo, and Tigrigna

2. Business Development Services

This includes mentoring, guiding the SMEs through a growth plan, innovative financing, multi-faceted improvement and innovation, operating facilities, marketing and access to market with particular emphasis to youth and women enterprises.

Their business development services are categorized as the following:

• Group BDS Training Sessions

• One-to-One BDS Services: available for entrepreneurs who seek to accelerate the growth of their business.

• On Demand Business Development: provided to entrepreneurs at any EDC office during regular business hours.

3. Innovation Services

EDC provides customized innovation training, Experience and knowledge sharing forums & networking sessions and Innovation promotion and outlet linkages.