Abstract
The ILO ProAgro Ethiopia – ‘Promotion of Decent Work in Agribusiness’ project, funded by the BMZ Special Initiative on Training and Job Creation, conducted an agri entrepreneurship ecosystem assessment in the Sidama Region. Sidama is one of Ethiopia’s most vibrant agribusiness hubs, known for its strong agricultural base, rich coffee heritage, and expanding opportunities in fruits, vegetables, dairy, and poultry. The region also benefits from committed institutions, a young workforce, and major investments such as the Yirgalem Integrated Agro Industrial Park. Despite this potential, several systemic gaps hinder inclusive and sustainable growth. Farmers and MSMEs face challenges including inefficient markets, limited access to affordable finance, low value addition, weak coordination, infrastructure constraints, and gender-related barriers. These issues are further exacerbated by demographic pressures, climate shocks, food insecurity, and economic volatility. To address these challenges, the ILO and its partners are supporting the Ethiopian government through the ProAgro Ethiopia project to strengthen the agri entrepreneurship ecosystem in Sidama region of Ethiopia. This publication provides a comprehensive analysis of the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, outlining the ecosystem map and key characteristics, identifying priority pillars, and offering in depth analysis and actionable recommendations.