Map of Ethiopia

Economic Growth and Trade

A customer receives money at the Wakiilka HelloCash agent in Jigjiga. Established through a USAID grant, HelloCash enables customers to use their phone to pay for goods in shops or pay bills.
A customer receives money at the Wakiilka HelloCash agent in Jigjiga. Established through a USAID grant, HelloCash enables customers to use their phone to pay for goods in shops or pay bills.
Robert Sauers, USAID

The Ethiopian Government has developed comprehensive agricultural and economic development plans that have contributed to the country’s substantial growth in agriculture, industry and services. There has also been tremendous growth in the number, diversity and market share of private businesses in the Ethiopian economy. However, basic challenges such as unskilled labor, high transport costs, limited availability of financial and telecommunications services, and land tenure insecurity require further attention.

We work closely with the Government of Ethiopia to implement activities that promote increased trade. USAID Trade and Investment Hubs are designed to reinforce regional and bilateral efforts to strengthen Africa's economic competitiveness and assist countries to take greater advantage of the trade opportunities provided by the African Growth and Opportunity Act and other global trade initiatives. The Trade and Investment Hub programs include trade capacity building, improvements to the private sector enabling environment, better market access and opportunities, trade facilitation, food security programs, and export promotion support for African products.

Learn more: East Africa Trade and Investment Hub

Private Sector Development

Our mission in Ethiopia works to advance an environment that supports increased private sector investment and growth. In the past five years, Ethiopia has experienced substantial growth in all three major economic sectors (agriculture, industry and services). However, investments by the private sector lag far behind those of government and the country continues to rank lowest in the region for the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.

We endorse private sector development within core Feed the Future activities along with stand-alone activities and the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition to create the necessary environment for private sector growth. We work with producers, processors and suppliers to build private sector capacity and competitiveness. We also foster private sector development by enabling a more stable and inclusive financial system. This is achieved by promoting discussion between private and public institutions and improving business development services for small and medium enterprises.

Launched in 2012, the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition ushered in a new phase of global investment in food security and nutrition, building on previous G8 efforts. The New Alliance is a shared commitment to achieve sustained and inclusive agricultural growth and globally raise 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years.

Development Credit

Ethiopia’s farmers lack access to finance, which they need to modernize their practices and purchase or lease machinery. Ethiopian banks generally require collateral valued at a minimum of 100 percent of the value of the loan, plus interest, which is unattainable for most farmers. Since all Ethiopian land belongs to the government, farmers cannot use the land they lease as collateral and banks do not accept crops or other farm stock as collateral.

We encourage growth of the private sector and microenterprises in Ethiopia by improving access to finance and credit for underserved populations. Our development credit portfolio focuses on women, diaspora and local entrepreneurs engaged in small- and medium-sized business activities in agriculture and health.

To expand access to credit in the agricultural and health sectors in Ethiopia, we established a loan portfolio facility shared by eight private commercial banks. For agriculture, the program supports the banks in extending credit to agricultural cooperatives, livestock marketing groups, private sector agro-processors, and private sector commercial horticulture producers. We have a dedicated loan guarantee focused on the expansion of women-owned businesses. In health, with funding provided by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, we will increase lending to private health sector enterprises, particularly those providing HIV/AIDS and TB services. Loans will enable private clinics, pharmacies and hospitals to make quality improvements and expand services to more people living with HIV and TB.

Activities Include

New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition

Featured Articles

Related Resources

Related News

New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition

Commercial Farm Service Centers

Coffee, Chickpea, Maize, Sesame, Honey, Livestock and Dairy

Development Credit Authority

Textiles

News

USAID Administrator Mark Green's Press Roundtable
USAID Administrator Mark Green's Remarks After Meeting with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
USAID Administrator Mark Green's Meeting with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Administrator Green Announces Next Phase of Feed the Future on First International Trip
USAID Administrator Mark Green’s Press Availability
View All