Ethiopia recently hosted the Finance Forum 2025, a two-day event organized by the National Bank of Ethiopia from May 15 to 16 in Addis Ababa. The forum brought together a diverse group of participants, including policymakers, financial institutions, private sector leaders, development partners, academics, civil society representatives, and members of the Ethiopian diaspora, to discuss the future of the country’s financial sector.
The Forum provided an important platform for aligning on the future of Ethiopia’s financial system, promoting collaboration, and exploring investment opportunities. Discussions focused on how Ethiopia can further strengthen its financial infrastructure to foster inclusive growth and expand access to finance.
Among the participating organizations was the Mastercard Foundation, which shared insights from its ongoing efforts to support youth- and women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Ethiopia. Through partnerships with financial institutions and fintech companies, the Foundation works to increase access to finance through the development of digital lending models and tailored financial products.
Representatives from programs supported by the Foundation took part in the Forum to share their experiences. These programs aim to reach underserved groups—particularly women, youth, people with disabilities, and rural populations—with financial tools and business development services.
One such initiative is SAFEE (Sustainable Access to Finance to Enable Entrepreneurship), a partnership between Mastercard Foundation and Kifiya Financial Technologies. SAFEE is designed to reach 2.18 million young people with digital financial services, complemented by financial literacy training and credit access mechanisms.
Woyneshet Niguse Mekonen, a 33-year-old entrepreneur from Majete, was among the beneficiaries who shared their story. Supported by SAFEE and a Michu loan, she established Nitsuh Pyjama and Comfort, transitioning from informal food sales to a formal sleepwear business. She now operates a small boutique sourcing materials from Merkato and earning a stable income.
Another program participant, Yordanos Hailmaryam, who has run a poultry business since 2017, spoke about her involvement in the MESMER program—a result of the partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and First Consult. MESMER supports MSMEs through access to finance, business development services, and psychosocial support, with a focus on youth employment and inclusive growth.
After completing digital business development training, Yordanos secured a loan that enabled her to expand her operations, hire additional staff, and enhance her service delivery. Her team grew from 11 to 14 employees, her monthly revenue increased from ETB 70,000 to ETB 100,000, and her personal savings through Equb rose from ETB 5,000 to ETB 8,000.
These examples were part of broader discussions at the Forum, which emphasized the importance of inclusive financial systems in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship. Many speakers noted that tailored financial services—especially those that incorporate digital tools—can play a role in improving economic participation and resilience.
As Finance Forum 2025 concluded, it reaffirmed the importance of building an inclusive financial system that supports the aspirations of young people, women, and people with disabilities. The Mastercard Foundation remains committed to working with a range of stakeholders to create an enabling environment for meaningful, sustained change in Ethiopia’s financial sector.