The Credit Gap Holding Ethiopian Women Back

Women’s economic empowerment is frequently celebrated as a cornerstone of Ethiopia’s development ambitions. Across the country, women cultivate farms, run small businesses, sustain informal markets, and shoulder much of the unpaid care that keeps households and communities functioning. Yet despite being central to the economy, women continue to face unequal access to one of its most powerful resources: finance. The inability to save securely, access affordable credit, or invest in business growth is not simply an individual challenge. It reflects structural inequalities that continue to shape whose economic contributions are recognized, valued, and financed.