ORDA Ethiopia has launched the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture program (MaYEA).

ORDA Ethiopia has officially announced the implementation of the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Program, which is led by ORDA Ethiopia in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, in Bahir Dar on April 26, 2024, at Blue Nile Resort Hotels.

The workshop aims to familiarize all participants with the goals, strategies, and expected results of the MaYEA Program, and to foster increased engagement and collaboration from stakeholders in implementing, monitoring, evaluating progress, and strategizing for the project as a whole.

Alemayehu Wassie (Ph.D), Executive Director of ORDA Ethiopia, highlighted the partnership of the #Mastercard Foundation in supporting the MaYEA Program and the leading role given to ORDA Ethiopia in his welcoming speech.

Ato Tilahun Addis, Program Director for the MaYEA Program in the North and North West (NNW) Subnational Hub, shared the MaYEA Program objectives, strategies and intended results. The journey and experiences of the MoYESH Program were also shared during the workshop by Bedaso Taye, icipe representative.

The North and Northwest Subnational Hub, led by ORDA Ethiopia, implements the MaYEA program in Amhara region (41 Woredas in 7 Zones), Afar Region (4 woredas in 3 zones), Benishangul Gumuz region (3 woredas in 1 zone) and Tigray region (4 woredas in 2 zones) targeting 80% young Women and 10% vulnerable groups.

During the panel discussion the government stakeholder in Amhara Region, reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate with the ORDA Ethiopia to fulfill the responsibilities assigned to the regional government, both as individuals and as a government entity and representatives from banks also expressed their commitment to support youth access to finance.

Aside from the MaYEA Program implementing partners under the NNW Subnational Hub such as Bees for Development Ethiopia, Population Health and Environment Ethiopia Consortium and The Well in Action, stakeholders from government signatories, including the Bureau of Finance, Bureau of Agriculture, Bureau of Labor & Skill, Bureau of Women, Children and Social Affairs, Bureau of Trade and Market Development, Office of Livestock and Fisheries Resources Development Office and Cooperative Promotion Authority, as well as financial institutions, attended the workshop.

Looking ahead, Alemayehu (Ph.D) in his closing remarks called for collaboration to ensure the success of the MaYEA Program, particularly urging financial institutions to support ORDA Ethiopia in providing collateral-free financial assistance to the youth.