Young Ethiopians Make Their Country Number One in Social Business

Ethiopia, the first developing country to have hosted the 12^th annual Social Enterprise World Forum, is the fastest growing economy in the region and now home to around 55,000 social businesses, all on a drive to help the needy.

Business in Africa’s second-most populous country rose after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came on board in April 2018, with a plan to open the economy to private investment.

First president of Social Enterprise Ethiopia, Kibret Abebe, explains that young people are the main advancers of new social enterprises – an estimated quarter of which are led by women and half led by people under 35. Businesses include ex-prostitutes making jewelry out of bullet casing, drones delivering blood to health centers in rural areas, and private ambulances providing urgent care and transportation to accident victims.