Are you a woman running a business in the Amhara region in Ethiopia? This opportunity is for you!
Build resilience. Strengthen your livelihood. Shape your future: Our Local Call #SheBuildsBusinesses offers tailored financial support to help you sustain and grow your existing business — even in challenging environments.
WIDU, in collaboration with Private Sector Development in Ethiopia (PSD-E), seeks to promote female entrepreneurs located in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
Applications will be open until the August 30th, 2026.
WIDU.africa in Ethiopia launches the #SheBuildsBusinessesCall to support female entrepreneurs from the Amhara region by pairing grants with tailored business coaching, fuelling creative, inclusive, and sustainable growth in the Amhara region.
You lead – we support
Women entrepreneurs are key drivers of resilience and recovery. This is why the #SheBuildsBusinesses Call is designed to strengthen your capacity to lead, adapt, and thrive, on your own terms.
WIDU aims to provide personalized training, funding, and showcasing opportunities to entrepreneurs so that they can grow their businesses, create jobs, and contribute to local economic development.
By participating in this call, you can:
- Access financial support to boost your business. Receive a Grant (Grant amount = your private investment x2.5)
- Receive tailored business coaching to enhance your business strategy and operations
No diaspora co-funding required—this opportunity is 100% locally driven and accessible
Limited number of participants!
Attention, only a limited number of businesses will be selected for this Local Call. Applications will be reviewed based on clear criteria, including business viability, potential for job creation, and contribution to the local community.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Businesses operating in any sector are eligible
- Must be a women aged 18 or older
- Must be an Ethiopian citizen based in Amhara region
- Must own the business they are applying with
- Must own a registered business with a valid license for at least 2 years in the Amhara region
- Must be willing and able to invest between 48,000 – 112,000 ETB withing the period of August-September
- The business can have up to 20 employees
- Applicants who have participated in WIDU's previous local calls are not eligible
- Applicants who have applied for the Original WIDU Grant must first complete their existing project application before applying
Businesses that promote economic, environmental or social sustainability, practice inclusive employment, foster gender equality, and/or support disadvantaged communities are encouraged to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About Our Partner
Private Sector Development in Ethiopia (PSD-E), is a programme implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Government of the Netherlands.
PSD-E implements interventions aimed at restoring local economies and strengthening the resilience, recovery, growth, and competitiveness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), start-ups, and Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) affected by conflict in Ethiopia.
The project supports businesses directly to sustain or rebuild operations by improving their overall performance and creditworthiness, while also strengthening public institutions, Business Membership Organizations (BMOs), and Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) that support the private sector ecosystem.
For more information, visit the following websites:
