A group of women and girls are actively participating in a handicraft training program at the General Wingate Technical and Vocational Education and Training center. They are part of the Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs Project (UPSNJP), which aims to provide economic opportunities for urban poor communities across 88 Ethiopian cities. Supported by the World Bank, UPSNJP has reached 1.7 million people, focusing on job facilitation and social inclusion.
Tigist Lema, a single mother, is one of the beneficiaries who found short-term employment through UPSNJP's public works program. Although her monthly income offered some relief, Tigist was eager to find more stable work. She welcomed the business development assistance provided by UPSNJP to help participants like her establish sustainable livelihoods.
The program selects beneficiaries through community targeting and Poverty Means Testing, assessing households based on various criteria to determine their economic status. It offers temporary employment for up to 36 months, along with financial literacy, business skills training, and coaching sessions. Participants also receive technical skills training tailored to their business plans and a startup grant upon completion.
Tigist now plans to start her own small business using her new skills and grant from the project. "I am now confident to start my own small business using my new skills and the business grant I received from the project," she said.
Hirut Reta is another participant whose life has been transformed by UPSNJP. Initially possessing basic sewing skills, Hirut started a glove-making business with support from the program's financial literacy coaching. She saved money through 'equb,' a traditional community-based saving system, to buy her first sewing machine. As her business grew, she hired three people for production assistance.
Hirut's success story highlights how UPSNJP empowers women through training, financial literacy education, and startup grants. These initiatives enable women like Tigist and Hirut to create sustainable businesses that improve their lives and those of their communities.