ETHIOPIA

UNCDF has been present in Ethiopia since 1982, executing local development and financial inclusion programmes to provide financial services and endorse economic activities at the local level.

Today, UNCDF offers catalytic finance models that unlock public and private resources in “last mile” environments, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

UNCDF is currently implementing the CleanStart programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, the Development Bank of Ethiopia and UNDP/GEF’s Promoting Sustainable Rural Energy Technologies (RETs) for Household and Productive Uses projects.

UNCDF is in the process of starting up the Programme for Inclusive and Rural Finance (PIRUF). The PIRUF aims to support the implementation of the Government of Ethiopia’s Financial Inclusive Strategy, and to expand access to financial products and services for underserved and underbanked women, youth, rural households and SMEs.