Sheger Entrepreneurs Association

Sheger Entrepreneurs Association and Policy Studies Institute Ink Working Agreement to Advance Regenerative Entrepreneurship in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - May 28, 2026

Sheger Entrepreneurs Association (SEA) and Policy Studies Institute (PSI) have formalized a working agreement to strengthen Ethiopia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem through knowledge-based interventions, joint research, and capacity building. The partnership centres on advancing regenerative, non-extractive enterprises that deliver measurable social, environmental, and economic value in alignment with Ethiopia’s Home-Grown Economic Reform (HGER).

Strategic Rationale and Vision

Alemu Zeleke Gemechu, CEO of SEA, emphasized that close collaboration with PSI will provide SEA with real-time data and evidence essential to play a decisive role in the ecosystem. “SEA advances knowledge-based entrepreneurial ecosystem interventions,” he stated. “We promote non-extractive business, working in partnership rather than pursuing profit-maximizing, monopolistic mind-sets that create negative externalities. Our approach generates positive social, environmental, and economic impacts.”

Alemu argued that Ethiopia operates in a context of abundant resources, contrary to the scarcity-driven mentality of conventional economic models. “All we need to do is cultivate innovative and creative youth and society to explore resources around us and use them restoratively,” he explained. “That is where we promote regenerative businesses already evident in the Green Legacy Initiative, urban re-engineering and corridor development, and ecotourism development under HGER.”

He also noted that financial institutions are increasingly aware of and capable of supporting businesses without requiring traditional collateral for loans.

Joint Commitment to Evidence-Based Policy and Shared Growth

Teferi Tiyaru, Deputy Director General of PSI and signatory for the institute, underscored the critical role of data in development. “Knowledge and evidence-based policy is vitally important to support development,” he said. “Marshalling resources together and working in partnership is the best opportunity we have to change every situation in the country.”

Teferi identified employment creation as one of Ethiopia’s most pressing challenges. “Growing together is not an option it is mandatory,” he affirmed. “Research and capacity building are the main areas where the two institutions can work to further enhance SEA’s endeavours in catalysing the entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

Priority Areas for Collaboration

The partnership will focus on three interlocking pillars:
1. Research & Evidence Generation-Joint data collection, policy analysis, impact evaluation of regenerative enterprises to produce credible evidence to inform policy and investment decisions
2. Capacity Building-Training programs for youth entrepreneurs on regenerative business models, financial literacy, and ecosystem navigation to create skilled workforce capable of launching and scaling restorative ventures
3. Policy Advocacy & Ecosystem Catalysis-Co-developing policy recommendations, facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues, promoting non-extractive business models to producing policy reforms that enable inclusive, regenerative economic growth.

Both institutions commit to regular joint reviews, transparent reporting, and iterative learning to ensure the partnership delivers tangible impact. The agreement positions SEA and PSI as strategic anchors for a knowledge-driven, inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem that restores ecosystems, creates decent jobs, and distributes prosperity across communities.





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