Business Plan Competition Empowers Refugee, Host Communities in Ethiopia’s Somali Region

Jigjiga, Ethiopia (ILO News) – A groundbreaking Business Plan Competition (BPC) concluded with the selection and awarding of the best 50 business ideas, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs from refugee and host communities in Ethiopia’s Somali region. The initiative, spearheaded by the International Labour Organization (ILO), through the PROSPECTS Programme in partnership with HASI Consulting, aims to foster entrepreneurship, drive economic growth, and create sustainable livelihoods for host communities and refugees in Ethiopia’s the Somali Region.

Launched in June 2023, the BPC generated significant interest, receiving a staggering 1,931 proposals from young aspiring entrepreneurs across diverse sectors. A rigorous evaluation process selected 100 of the most promising business plans as the first-round winners, whose creators then received intensive training and mentorship provided by members of the Business Development Services Providers Association of Ethiopia (BDSPA). This crucial step equipped the BPC entrants with the necessary skills to refine their business ideas,, develop comprehensive business plans, and strengthen their entrepreneurial capabilities.

Following the training, the BPC culminated in a high-stakes pitching event. The first-round winners presented their refined business plans to a panel of judges and industry experts, demonstrating the viability and potential of their ventures. 50 outstanding businesses were selected to receive grant funding to start or expand their business ventures, along with ongoing business coaching and mentorship to ensure long-term sustainability of the business ventures.

Quotes:

• “The BPC has played a pivotal role in nurturing entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and driving economic growth” stated Stephen OPIO, Chief Technical Advisor, International Labour Organization, PROPSECTS Programme, Ethiopia. “By empowering individuals to turn their ideas into successful and sustainable businesses, this initiative has the power to spread the spirit of entrepreneurship among the communities they belong to.” 
• “This initiative has been instrumental in fostering a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Fafan Zone of the Somali region” said Tiest Sondaal, Deputy Head of Cooperation and Regional Refugee and Migration Coordinator for the Embassy of the Netherlands. “This approach is not just about building businesses; it’s about empowering forcibly displaced persons and their hosts to become self-reliant contributors to their communities. By equipping them with the skills and resources they need, we are empowering them to build a brighter future.”
• “The success of the Business Plan Competition is a testament to the power of collaboration. By working together, with the ILO PROSPECTS program, HASI Consulting, the regional bureaus and the local communities in the Fafan zone, we’ve fostered an environment where innovative ideas can flourish” said, Abdirahman Ali Hirsi, CEO of HASI Consulting. “This public-private partnership empowers aspiring entrepreneurs and strengthens the local economy, creating a lasting impact for both refugees and host communities.” 

The BPC has been implemented in close collaboration with the National Business Development Service Providers Association, Ethiopia’s Refugees & Returnees Service (RRS), Somali Region’s Skills and Job Creation Bureau and financial service providers. 

The 50 winning business ideas will receive follow-up technical support, business coaching and mentorship in establishing and strengthening their businesses. Work permits and business licences will be facilitated by RRS and the Somali Region’s Skills and Job Creation Bureau. 

About the PROSPECTS Programme:

PROSPECTS Programme, an innovative partnership bringing together five agencies ie; IFC, ILO, UNHCR, UNICEF and WB, is spearheaded and funded by the Government of the Netherlands. The partnership aims to shift the paradigm from a humanitarian to a development approach in responding to forced displacement crises focusing on four pillars: education and learning; economic inclusion; protection and social protection; and critical infrastructure. Completing the first phase of the program from 2019 to 2023 with success, the Government of the Netherlands is committed to the continuation of the PROSPECTS Programme, including in Ethiopia, from 2024 through 2027 with a total budget of EUR 800 million for all eight participating countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Sudan and Uganda. The regional launch of PROSPECTS 2.0 is marked today along with the BPC winners award event.  

About HASI Consulting:

Founded in 2013, HASI Consulting is a regional consulting firm specializing in a wide range of services including strategic management, leadership, research, marketing, human development, training & development, and trade and investment facilitation. They serve small, medium, and large business organizations, NGOs, and government institutions. Additionally, HASI Consulting offers expertise in project management, the development of proposals, and strategic plans, as well as the drafting of policies and procedures.

For more information, please contact:

• Eirmyas Kaase, Senior Programme Officer at ILO – kaase@ilo.org or +251 911 16 76 047
• Muktar Omer -Deputy Managing Director at HASI Consulting m.omer@hasiconsulting.com or +251 961 26 68 10.