Smart Souks Program Familiarization Workshop Builds Awareness of Needs and Opportunities in Addis Ababa’s Micro-Retail Sector
The event brought together key stakeholders from across the public sector to create collaboration and alignment.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (November 2, 2026) – TechnoServe convened public sector stakeholders at the Capital Hotel in Addis Ababa for a familiarization workshop about the Smart Souks program, funded by elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization. The event brought together leaders from Addis Ababa City Administration Labor & Skills Bureau and Sub-city level offices to build collaboration and alignment on the initiative’s goal of strengthening Addis Ababa’s micro-retail sector.
The workshop offered participants insights into the micro-retail sector and outlined the program’s strategy to address core industry challenges. Smart Souks launched in September 2025, will support 300 micro-retail businesses, contributing to better livelihoods for 900 people and improving access to essential goods and services.
Findings from TechnoServe’s April 2026 market assessment, conducted via Epsilon Economic & Business Consultants (EEBC), highlighted strong potential for impact: while 97% of surveyed shop owners use smartphones and 99% hold business licenses, over 40% lack basic financial records and 93% rely on personal savings to operate. Furthermore, more than 85% acquire their inventory through intermediaries operating in Merkato. This highlights the critical need to implement targeted program interventions that facilitate bulk purchasing, foster direct supplier connections, and promote business-to-business partnerships. Participants broadly validated these findings, noting limited working capital and supply chain fragmentation as primary obstacles.
“The assessment accurately reflects the micro-retail landscape in Addis Ababa, particularly the key hurdles of limited working capital and multi-layered supply chains. Addressing these issues collaboratively will be vital for sector growth. We can also leverage government training centers, which have already delivered business skills training to numerous souks,” said Mr. Ataklti Tsegay, Team Leader at the Akaki Kality Sub-city Labor and Skills Office.
Workshop participants appreciated the Smart Souks program, highlighting how closely it aligns with the needs of the micro-retailers in Addis Ababa. In this regard, Tamiru Debela, Case Team Leader at the Addis Ababa Bureau of Labor and Skills, noted, “For a long time, small retail shop owners lacked targeted business training and working capital to grow. Programs like Smart Souks directly address these gaps, equipping entrepreneurs with the skills and finance needed to succeed.”
In her keynote speech, Makeda T. Tadesse, TechnoServe Ethiopia Country Director, has also said, “The Smart Souks program delivers practical solutions for micro-retailers by strengthening business skills, streamlining product sourcing, and opening pathways to sustainable growth. Close partnership with government and market leaders is critical to building a thriving, self-sustaining retail sector.”
Moving forward, TechnoServe and the Addis Ababa Bureau of Labor and Skills will start recruitment of 224 program participants for cohort 2 across target sub-cities, expand commercial supply chain partnerships, and engage financial institutions to deliver tailored micro-credit products.
##
About TechnoServe
Founded in 1968, TechnoServe is a leading nonprofit that helps people lift themselves out of poverty for good by harnessing the power of the private sector. We work with people in over 30 countries to build a better future through regenerative farms, businesses, and markets that increase incomes. Our vision is a sustainable world where all people in low-income communities have the opportunity to prosper.
Media Contact: Lejalem Adamu, Smart Souks Program Manager, TechnoServe Ethiopia | ladamu@tns.org