Gebeya Inc. and the Mastercard Foundation have announced a new five-year program called Mesirat, aimed at equipping 100 entrepreneurs in Ethiopia with their own gig marketplaces. The program, powered by a $48 million partnership and a consortium of partners, will enable entrepreneurs to launch and run their own gig marketplaces across Ethiopia, with a focus on sectors including tourism and hospitality, agriculture, education, healthcare, commerce, manufacturing, IT, professional services, transport, FMCG, and entertainment. Mesirat will also equip two million young people with market-facing skills and enable one million of them (70 percent women) to find work. The program is in line with the Mastercard Foundation's Young Africa Works strategy to enable 10 million young men and women to have access to dignifying and fulfilling work by 2030. The new initiative aims to revolutionize Ethiopia's employment landscape and is set to be executed by adopting a multi-sectoral approach, bringing together a consortium of key partners, including ACE Advisors, American College of Technology (ACT), Shega, The Urban Center, the Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE), and Laurendeau & Associates.
The Mesirat program is a significant step towards creating sustainable and dignified work opportunities for young Ethiopians, particularly women, who have been historically underrepresented in the country's labor force. With the support of the Mastercard Foundation, Gebeya, and its consortium partners, Mesirat, aim to equip 100 entrepreneurs in Ethiopia with the tools and knowledge they need to launch their own multi-sided gig marketplaces.
Over the next five years, Mesirat will focus on 12 sectors, including tourism and hospitality, agriculture, education, construction, healthcare, commerce, manufacturing, information technology, professional services, transport, fast-moving consumer goods, and entertainment. The program is expected to create two million jobs and equip two million young people with market-facing skills, with a special emphasis on empowering women.
"We believe that empowering women economically is key to development," said Dr. Nigest Haile, founder, and executive director of the Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE). "Mesirat is an innovative initiative that aligns with our vision of creating opportunities for young women to fully realize
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