MasterCard Foundation Takes Root in Addis

Sep 7 , 2019


[ssba-buttons]

Ethiopia signed an agreement with MasterCard Foundation that enables it to open a branch office in Addis Abeba. The agreement was signed between State Minister for Foreign Affairs Markos Tekle (PhD) and Alemayehu Konde, MasterCard Foundation Ethiopia Representative, on September 6, 2019. “I’m happy by the decision of the Foundation to open its branch office in Addis Abeba,” said Markos. “The opening of the office will contribute its share for the achievement of the plan set by the Ethiopian government to empower women and youth.” “Ethiopia is one of the ten strategic nations selected by the Foundation for financial and technical support in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and other sectors,” said Alemayehu. About 70pc of beneficiaries of the employment opportunities will be women, he said. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, MasterCard Foundation is a global foundation established by MasterCard in 2006.


Radar

Ethiopia Unveils Consortium to Insure Millions of Farmers

Ethiopia has launched its Agricultural Insurance Consortium (AICE), pledging to protect three million farmers by 2026. Announced on July 3, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency, the initiative is backed by Pula Advisors and five major Ethiopian insurers. AICE plans to promote climate resilience through insurance bundled with the government's input voucher system. Leveraging AI platforms like Mavuno and PIE, it plans to standardise products, lower costs, and expand coverage to over 200 woredas. With agricu...


Radar

New Coopbank Partnership Targets Youth Economic Empowerment

The Cooperative Bank of Oromia (Coopbank) has signed a strategic agreement with Melka Ethiopia to provide loan services to over 120,000 young men and women nationwide. The partnership plans to promote youth economic empowerment by expanding access to finance and creating jobs, with a strong focus on rural and underserved areas. Both institutions held joint discussions to explore ways to improve youth livelihoods and financial inclusion. By closing access gaps, the partnership is expected to help...


Radar

Ethiopian Netpreneur Program Training Kicks Off

The Ethiopian Netpreneur 2025 Training Program has officially launched its first cohort in Addis Abeba with 64 entrepreneurs beginning their first round of training. Organised by the Global Digital Talent Academy, the initiative plans to empower local business owners, startup founders, and digital sector players with global-level e-commerce skills. At the launch event, Innovation and Technology Minister Belete Mola (PhD) urged participants to leverage the opportunity to build networks and shape...