On July 1st 2021 Alliance Microfinance AS (AMAS) signed a grant agreement with Norad based on an application submitted in partnership with Norwegian Church Aid, Bakken & Bæck (a Norwegian tech company) and East African Group (a leading industrial conglomerate in Ethiopia).

AMAS will be the lead partner and grant manager for the project, aiming to provide farmers in the greater Addis Abeba urban areas with digital, financial services and market integration through a digital agri-bank.

This important milestone for AMAS could only be reached by the active participation and commitment from our three very strong partners in the project. With a more than 40 years long presence in Ethiopia, Norwegian Chruch Aid has built a strong reputation and trust with the government as well as the local communities and civil society actors. Through their partners, urban farmers will be mobilized, and training and inputs will be provided. Bakken & Bæck, who developed the latest version of the payment solution Vipps, is among the most innovative companies in Norway and will design relevant digital solutions. To ensure access to markets scalability for the farmers/producers East African Group, one of Ethiopia’s largest employers, will engage with and further develop their logistics and distribution capabilities.

Through this unique partnership we are confident that the average income of the farmers reached will increase and that new jobs will be created.

We are thankful to Norad for giving us this unique opportunity and for fruitful discussions and valuable inputs in the process leading to the signed Grant Agreement.