From factory floors to policy hubs, the WEFACE 2026 delegation wrapped a fast-moving second round of visits across Addis Ababa, converting insights on quality, market access, mechanization, and export readiness into concrete next steps for women-led cooperatives.
Industries and sites visited
Sheger Bread & Flour Factory PLC in Akaki-Kality opened its high-throughput bakery and adjacent mill, engineered for around 80,000 loaves per hour, illustrating urban food-security operations at industrial scale.
Lame Dairy PLC demonstrated pasteurized and UHT “Shola Milk” lines, with discussions on HACCP, GMP, and retail-ready packaging that inform cooperative supply integration.
AMG Coffee Export shared exporter playbooks on grading, moisture control, certifications, and traceability across hallmark origins serving Europe, the USA, and Asia.
Kaleb Services Farmer’s House PLC showcased combine and baler solutions through its nationwide service and training network, a pathway to reduce harvest losses and raise grain quality.
Enablers we engaged
The Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) detailed ACCII, scaling climate-smart and market-oriented cluster commercialization after ACC areas out-performed national averages and nearly doubled grain commercialization.
The Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) Food Science & Nutrition program outlined its 10-year strategy and ISO- aligned labs that support food processing, safety, and nutrition for compliant, market-ready products.
The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) presented entrepreneurship training, BDS, access-to-finance, and national roles under UNCTAD EMPRETEC and Global Entrepreneurship Week that can be tailored to cooperative leaders.
Gullele Botanic Garden offered product-innovation avenues through traceable botanicals and hands-on biodiversity education across a 705- hectare living collection and ex situ programs.
Acknowledgments
The WEFACE Project and Arsi University gratefully acknowledge Lame Dairy PLC; Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI); Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI); Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR); Gullele Botanic Garden; AMG Coffee Export (AMG Holdings); Kaleb Services Farmer’s House PLC; and Sheger Bread & Flour Factory PLC for hosting our delegation and sharing actionable know-how that strengthens quality, linkages, and opportunities for women-led cooperatives across Ethiopia’s agri-food value chains. We also extend special appreciation to the Addis Ababa City Tourism Commission and its city tour guides for expertly facilitating city tours and warmly hosting our guests