ATI, MasterCard unveil a $74.5mln ADEY Program to support over 600,000 youth

Addis Ababa, October 25, 2023 (FBC) – Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) and Mastercard Foundation have partnered to launch the Agriculture-focused Dignified Employment for Youth in Ethiopia (‘ADEY’) Program to support over 600,000 young people.

It is stated that the program will be implemented for five years in Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, Central Ethiopia, Southwest Ethiopia, South Ethiopia and Somali regions with 74.5 million US dollar financial support from Mastercard Foundation.

ADEY is said to be a program that creates employment opportunities for the youth in agricultural inputs and marketing, value addition and processing of agricultural products.

According to ATI, ADEY Program aims to create job opportunities for 611 thousand 343 youths, of which 427 thousand 940 are self-employed and 183 thousand 403 are salaried youths. Of the target group, 80% of them are said to be young women, it is learned.

The Program further aims to engage in inclusive and dignified work opportunities in the agriculture sector.

Addressing the audience at the launching event, Mr. Mandefro Nigusie, CEO of ATI, said that the program will not only create job opportunities for the youth, but will also empower young women by positively impacting their lives.

For his part, the Director of MasterCard Foundation Ethiopia, Samuel Yalew Adella, noted that ADEY will enable young people to acquire skills and technological knowledge.