Addis Ababa, 29 May 2025 – The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), funded the European Union (EU), through Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and TradeMark Africa (TMA), has launched a fully functional online Knowledge Management and E-Learning System. The platform is designed to strengthen workforce capacity, improve industry standards, boost sector competitiveness, and enhance compliance across Ethiopia’s horticulture industry.
Built for over 120 member firms exporting cut flowers, fruits, vegetables, and herbs, the system offers a flexible, cost-efficient, and sustainable solution for compliance training, technical skill-building, and real-time knowledge exchange. This is essential for a fast-evolving sector that generates significant foreign exchange and employment—particularly for women and youth.
The platform is fully owned and managed by EHPEA, ensuring adaptability to the specific needs of Ethiopia’s horticulture ecosystem. Key features include:
- Multimedia training modules
- Collaborative forums
- Tailored reports for tracking learning progress and compliance
- Mobile compatibility for accessibility across diverse locations
- Built-in data analytics and a version-controlled knowledge base for evidence-based decision-making
Ambassador of the European Union in Ethiopia, H.E Ambassador Sofie From-Emmesberger, said: “The world is changing at a fast pace, and so is global trade… Digital transformation is key to accelerate trade flows around the world. The e-learning platform and the AI-based Knowledge Management System are an opportunity to share and test innovative ideas for agile trade, economic resilience and inclusive growth for Ethiopia.”
Ambassador of the European Union in Ethiopia, H.E. Ambassador Sofie From-Emmesberger
Speaking on behalf of AFD, Country Director for Ethiopia, Louis-Antoine Souchet, noted: “At AFD, we are deeply committed to supporting projects that combine local ownership with digital innovation. With the new system in place, EHPEA members will be truly empowered towards a long-term vision for green, inclusive, and resilient growth in Ethiopia and the wider region.’’
AFD Country Director for Ethiopia, Mr Louis-Antoine Souche
TMA Ethiopia Country Director, Ewnetu Chufa, said: “TMA is proud to support this initiative, which directly contributes to inclusive trade and skills development. It aligns with our mission to make African trade more efficient, sustainable, and equitable.”
EHPEA Executive Director Mr Tewodros Zewdie said: “This platform marks a major leap forward for our sector. By digitising knowledge and training, we are empowering thousands of workers especially women and youth to grow, adapt and remain globally competitive.”
The EHPEA Knowledge Management and E-Learning System is part of Ethiopia’s broader national strategy to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of its horticulture sector. The sector:
- Generates approximately $660 million annually, with 95% from flower exports
- Provides employment for over 200,000 people, 80% of whom are women
In this context, the digital platform addresses pressing challenges around quality standards, resource constraints, and market access—both regional and global.
The initiative forms part of the project Promoting Regional Economic Integration in the Horn of Africa through the development of the Djibouti corridor, aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway investments. The design, development, and deployment of the system—along with a two-year technical support window—were fully funded under this project.
To ensure sustainability, a post-warranty maintenance plan is in place, capped at 15% of the initial contract value annually, and structured to avoid dependency on proprietary licensing models.
