The SIFA JOB-FEET Enset Project, led by Arba Minch University (AMU) under the guidance of AUDA-NEPAD, has concluded a five-day intensive hands-on training on enset fiber crafting for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Hawassa, Sidama Region. Funded by the European Union and the German Development Bank (KfW), SIFA JOB-FEET Enset Project conducted the training from December 22–27, 2025, benefiting 36 participants, the majority of whom were women, drawn from three local SMEs. The program equipped trainees with practical skills to transform enset fiber into marketable craft products, strengthening female employability and entrepreneurship. Click here to see more photos.
Highlighting the broader scientific and economic significance, AMU Vice President for Research and Cooperation, Dr. Teklu Wegayehu, said, the project aligns with the university’s national and international research agenda. He noted that enset, a staple food for more than 25 million Ethiopians and a priority crop of the Ministry of Agriculture, is gaining renewed importance through AMU-led innovations including yeast technology that reduces fermentation time from months to seven days, improved processing machines, and odorless pulp techniques. Dr. Teklu stated that the project is already creating employment opportunities across four value-chain areas of seedling production, machinery, processing outputs, and fiber crafts and urged trainees to apply the skills diligently, assuring sustained university support. The training contributes to the project’s broader objective of supporting around 1,500 unemployed women and people with disabilities across South Ethiopia, Central Ethiopia, and Sidama Regions, he remarked.
Project Coordinator and Principal Investigator, Dr. Wondwosen Jerrene, highlighted key components of the initiative, including enset breeding, processing machinery, expert-led training, and fiber-based crafts, noting that these elements enable participants to establish sustainable businesses. He emphasized the importance of addressing market access and growth challenges and assured continued support in the form of materials and equipment.
Regional and city officials echoed the same commitment. Yohannes Beliko, Director of the Job Creation Directorate at the Sidama Regional Labor and Skills Bureau, said Ethiopia’s transformation depends on citizen-driven initiatives and productive work. He pledged regional support through clustering, financial linkages, and additional training, commending the project for effectively harnessing local resources such as enset. Similarly, Ato Debebe Daqam, Head of the Job Creation Department at Hawassa City Administration, assured trainees of city-level support, including access to workspaces and loan facilities to sustain their new enterprises.
A field visit to Aleta Wendo further demonstrated tangible outcomes of the project. At the Logta Enset Seedling Producer SME Supplier Association in Garbcho-Kela Kebele, association members showcased the expansion of seedling production to more than 120,000 seedlings through improved propagation techniques. Association representatives emphasized the role of integrating indigenous knowledge with modern practices to enhance disease control, drought resilience, and market access. University officials lauded the progress and strong stakeholder collaboration, pledging continued technical and institutional support.
Meanwhile, trainees expressed strong optimism and a renewed sense of purpose following the training. Participants, including Aaddishiwot Worku and Zinash Alemu, noted that unlike previous experiences, the program provided practical and meaningful skills, enabling them to acquire valuable craft techniques that stimulated creativity and restored hope for the future. Trainers Getnet Berhanu from the Sidama Employment Bureau and Gemechu Chala from Arba Minch Polytechnic commended the participants for their high level of motivation, discipline, and work ethics. Plans are also underway to establish dedicated physical workspaces and digital platforms to support the production and marketing of enset fiber products.
The training concluded with the awarding of certificates to participants, marking a significant milestone in the “Job Opportunity for Female Employability through Proven Enset Technologies” project. By blending indigenous knowledge, scientific innovation, and practical skills development, the SIFA JOB-FEET Enset Project continues to position Enset as a driver of sustainable livelihoods, women’s empowerment, and local economic development in Ethiopia.
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