The Horn Economic and Social Policy Institute (HESPI) held a partnership meeting with the Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE) on September 23, 2026, to explore opportunities for strategic collaboration in support of women’s economic empowerment, SME development, policy research, and institutional capacity building.

Established in 2004 in Addis Ababa, CAWEE is a non-profit trade promotion and membership organization supporting women engaged in export-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Center provides a range of services designed to strengthen women-owned businesses, including international trade and digital marketing training, business counselling, trade missions and fairs, buyer linkages, and support to improve access to finance. CAWEE also works closely with governments, UN agencies, foundations, and international development organizations to advance women’s participation in trade and economic development.

The meeting provided an opportunity for HESPI and CAWEE to reflect on a shared interest in leveraging research, knowledge, networks, and institutional capabilities to contribute to more inclusive economic opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs. Both institutes identified areas of common interest and potential collaboration to create a platform for mobilizing resources and developing evidence-based interventions that respond to emerging challenges and opportunities in Ethiopia’s private sector and trade ecosystem. Drawing on HESPI’s experience in policy research, institutional capacity development, and evidence-based policy engagement, HESPI and CAWEE agreed to formalize the identified areas of collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Evance Rabare, Director of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, and Ms. Betty, Program Officer, representing CAWEE. HESPI was represented by Mr. Daniel Fantaye, Deputy Managing Director; Ms. Hiwot Gezahegn, Finance and Accounts Director; and Dr. Husen Maru, Climate Change Expert.

The partnership discussions mark a positive step toward building institutional cooperation that can support inclusive economic development, women’s entrepreneurship, evidence-based policymaking, and stronger linkages between research and practical development interventions.