Project and Fund Management

Shayashone (SYS) manages a number of projects within the agriculture and Education sectors which it is also co-implementing. Our company has an extensive local network of Ethiopian Universities, private sector actors, public institutions, and international development partners operating within Ethiopia and East Africa.

Projects

e-SHE project by Ministry of Education and Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation has launched a new project titled ‘e-Learning for Strengthening Higher Education (e-SHE)’ in partnership with the Ministry of Education of the FDRE (MoE), Arizona State University (ASU), and Shayashone (SYS) plc. The partnership is aligned with the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young people in Africa, particularly young women, to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. The overall objective of this partnership is to strengthen the higher education system through the use of digital technology for teaching and learning and to equip young people with the skills needed for employability and entrepreneurship. This envisaged e-learning program intended to strengthen the universities to deliver blended and quality education by adopting appropriate learning management and student information

systems in the Ethiopian universities. The program is anticipated to enhance and promote collaboration among universities through resource sharing, experience, and manpower sharing. It enables the best professors in any of the universities in the country to deliver courses and programs through digital platforms to a maximum number of students at minimum cost. The project targets to reach 800,000 students, 35,000 instructors,100 IT support staffs, and 5 resource centers. By doing so, equitable, affordable, and quality education can be achieved. SYS will be responsible for the technical implementation and overall coordination of the projects.

CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries)

The Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI) is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and is commissioned by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. CBI connects small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries to the European market and this way it contributes to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. The project’s aim is to support the transition to a high-quality and inclusive spice sector in Ethiopia. The project officially launched in January 2021 with the aim of developing a Strategic Export Marketing Plan for species.

BFA (Bright Future in Agriculture)

BFA is a € 5 million project funded by NUFFIC and implemented by Maastricht School of Management, Arba Minch University, and Technical University of Ethiopia (formerly known as Federal TVET Institute). The project aimed at building capacities of seven Agricultural TVET colleges to enhance employability of their graduates. Our company has been responsible for project management, partnership facilitation, policy research, and facilitation of dialogue.

ENTAG (Ethiopia Netherland Trade for Agricultural Growth)

ENTAG was part of the BENEFIT program implemented by the Wageningen University and Research with the support of the Royal Dutch Embassy in Addis Ababa. BENEFIT program was a € 40 million program funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands focused on the transformation of the agricultural sector in Ethiopia. SYS was involved at establishment and implementation of ENTAG project, which was parts of the program related to the private sector. As implementing partner, we were responsible for sector platform and policy dialogue facilitation focusing on pulses and oilseed, organizing e trade missions, developing several business opportunity reports, market studies, and backstop key investments in Ethiopia. One of the key outputs of SYS’s involvement in this assignment was the development of the Ethiopian Pulse Council Establishment proposal currently being rolled by the Ministry of Agriculture.

FtFE-VCA (Feed the Future Ethiopia- Value Chain Activities)

Feed the Future Ethiopia Value Chain Activities project. PICS commercialization for household food security and job opportunity for youth is a three-year sub grant project by USAID. The project aimed at developing the market and supply chain for hermetic storage bags in Ethiopia in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (including the regional bureaus of agriculture mainly in Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR). This project adopted a hybrid commercialization model of physical and digital extension. In the process, we successfully initiated and defended inclusion of hermetic storage bags in the tax exemption list by MoA and MoFED.

Shayashone offers assistance in organizing events, facilitating various courses and training sessions, and overseeing financial and logistical management. We also provide fund management services to major clients, including Zoetis, the leading animal health company, and Wageningen University (Center for Development Innovation).

We stand as the premier choice for agribusiness services and products, possessing over a decade of expertise in serving farmers in Ethiopia and neighboring countries. In an effort to expand our influence, we have recently ventured into the education sector. Our success is rooted in strategic partnerships with local, international, and governmental organizations.