Convened by the National Bank of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa from May 15–16, the forum brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including policymakers, financial institutions, private sector leaders, development partners, researchers, civil society, and diaspora representatives. Over two days, discussions explored how Ethiopia can enhance its financial infrastructure to unlock inclusive growth and improve access to finance for all.
Mastercard Foundation: Enabling Inclusive Financial Solutions
The Mastercard Foundation actively participated in the forum, sharing insights from its partnerships across Ethiopia’s financial ecosystem. Its work supports banks, microfinance institutions, fintechs, and other actors to design and deliver innovative, youth-responsive financial products—particularly for women, people with disabilities, rural populations, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Among the Foundation’s key initiatives are SAFEE (Sustainable Access to Finance to Enable Entrepreneurship) and MESMER (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Resilience). These programs go beyond finance, integrating business development support, skills training, and digital tools to help young entrepreneurs and MSMEs thrive.
Stories of Impact: Entrepreneurs Driving Change
Forum participants heard directly from young entrepreneurs whose journeys reflect the transformative power of inclusive finance.
Seada Ahmed, a kiosk owner in Addis Ababa and participant in the SAFEE program, secured a loan of ETB 143,000 through Ansar Digital Financing, Ethiopia’s first full- fledged Sharia-compliant digital financing service. As a mother and business owner, she described how this financing has allowed her to strengthen her shop, boost her income, and confidently plan for future expansion. Seada has already begun repaying the loan and is exploring opportunities to scale further.
In Dessie, Zeritu Getahun, co-founder of Ye Baltna Wutetoch Hibret Shirkna Mahber, shared how her food distribution business evolved from a modest home-based venture into a thriving enterprise. With initial capital of just ETB 10,000, and support through the MESMER program and business development training, she overcame barriers related to space and working capital. Today, the business generates monthly sales of ETB 300,000 and employs 32 people, most of whom are women.
Now preparing to launch a full-scale food processing facility, the co-founders’ journey demonstrates how access to tailored finance and technical support can fuel entrepreneurship, expand job creation, and inspire others.
A Shared Commitment to Inclusive Growth
As Finance Forum 2025 concluded, a clear message emerged: building an inclusive financial system is essential for realizing Ethiopia’s development ambitions. The event underscored the need for continued innovation, collaboration, and investment to ensure that finance works for everyone — especially youth, women, and historically underserved communities.
Through strong partnerships, the Mastercard Foundation is driving scalable solutions that open pathways to opportunity for Ethiopia’s youth, women, and marginalized groups.