The Energizing Women and Youth in Agrifood Systems (EWAS) Program, led by the Global Energy Alliance in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, is a transformative initiative designed to expand access to clean energy and unlock new economic opportunities for women and youth in Ethiopia. The program will empower Ethiopian businesses with affordable finance, training, and commercial opportunities, enabling young women and youth to access the benefits of solar-powered equipment and services.
The Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), a strategy and delivery-oriented government institute created to help accelerate the growth and transformation of Ethiopia’s agriculture sector, will lead on
● Entrepreneurship & job creation: ATI uses the EWAS program to create sustainable employment and business opportunities for women and youth across the agricultural value chain, from production to processing and marketing.
● Capacity building: The institute provides technical and business training to empower participants with the skills to manage modern agrifood enterprises.
● Resource access: ATI facilitates access to essential resources—such as financial services, climate-smart technologies, and land, specifically tailored to overcome the traditional barriers women and youth face in the sector.
● Systemic inclusion: By integrating EWAS into its broader “Agricultural Commercialization Clusters” (ACC), ATI ensures that women and youth are not just participants but key drivers of Ethiopia’s transition to a commercialized and food-secure economy.
By integrating climate-positive growth with professional agribusiness development, we ensure women aged 18–35 gain the technical skills, green technology, and market access needed to lead Ethiopia’s agricultural future.
EWAS is strategically aligned with Mission 300, Ethiopia’s national development goals and the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy. By positioning our collaborative efforts within the national challenge of unemployment, we drive a flagship approach that inspires adaptation and replication across focus markets.
The program aims to transform rural agri-food value chains through:
● Empowering professionals: We partner with hard-working women in grain milling, honey processing, and horticulture to match their indigenous knowledge with productive technology.
● Creating dignified work: The program supports the establishment of youth- and women-led enterprises, creating nearly 1,940 dignified, fulfilling jobs.
● Building resilience: By promoting affordable solar technologies, we empower communities to double productivity and foster energy-powered local economies.
EWAS is a pathway toward economic empowerment and gender equality. By positioning electrified agri-food systems as a scalable model, the program demonstrates how clean energy and agriculture work together to drive inclusive growth across Ethiopia.