GFA SUPPORTS VALIDATION WORKSHOP FOR MSME RECOVERY PROGRAMME IN NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
GFA Consulting Group, in partnership with FC Africa Group PLC, recently supported a validation workshop in Addis Ababa as part of the Support for the Recovery of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Post-Conflict Areas – Enhancing Finance and Financial Inclusion for MSMEs project, implemented on behalf of KfW for the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE).
The workshop brought together representatives of DBE, the European Union, KfW, partner financial institutions and other key stakeholders to review and validate the findings of the project's baseline assessment. The study examined the main constraints faced by MSMEs in the Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions and provides the evidence base for the further implementation of the programme.
The assessment confirmed that limited access to finance remains one of the most significant barriers to business recovery, alongside challenges such as insufficient collateral, shortages of foreign currency and uneven access to digital financial services. The validation workshop enabled stakeholders to discuss the findings and ensure that the programme's interventions are aligned with the needs of enterprises and financial institutions in the target regions.
As lead consultant, GFA Consulting Group is responsible for implementing the financial-sector component of the programme together with FC Africa Group PLC. The assignment supports DBE in expanding access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through selected Partner Financial Institutions, with a particular focus on women-owned and youth-owned businesses. In addition to working capital and investment finance, the project includes a foreign exchange financing window for import-related investments as well as technical assistance to promote climate-friendly business investments.
The programme contributes to the economic recovery of conflict-affected regions by strengthening financial inclusion and improving access to affordable finance for MSMEs, thereby supporting business resilience, employment and sustainable economic development.
Here you can read the official
press release
.
More information about the programme on our website and in the
factsheet
.
