The Mastercard Foundation, in collaboration with the Hailemariam & Roman Foundation (HRF), convened a co-planning session in Jinka Town, Ari Zone, from June 4-5, 2025, for the Youth Self-Employment in Southern Ethiopia Region (YES) Project. This two-day gathering brought together the Foundation’s program team, the HRF’s YES Project team from headquarters, and the Project Management Unit team at the field office. Key stakeholders from government, the private sector, and financial institutions also participated, to foster a collaborative environment aimed at further enabling the youth to achieve the goals of the self-employment initiative.
During the session, the attendees engaged in fruitful discussions on strategies to empower young entrepreneurs. The joint team visited various “Youth-In-Work” activities in Bena Tsemay Woreda and Jinka Town, where enterprises and cooperatives were actively involved in income-generating ventures such as small ruminant fattening, souvenir businesses, dairy farming, and cattle fattening.
Young women & men engaged in those businesses shared insights into their ongoing activities and voiced their needs for support from both the YES Project and government entities. The delegates expressed a strong commitment to addressing the challenges raised by these youth, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to foster sustainable economic opportunities.
The YES Project has continued to be a beacon of hope for the unemployed in South Omo & Ari Zones of Southern Ethiopia Region, equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills and resources to enable the youth to thrive in their chosen business ventures.
