Livelihoods Promotion
Since 1995, Pro Pride has implemented Livelihoods Promotion initiatives to expand access to savings, credit, and micro-enterprise opportunities for vulnerable community members, particularly women. To formalize these efforts, Pro Pride established Gasha, a microfinance institution serving 764 clients, providing formal savings and credit services.
A central strategy is the Self-Help Group (SHG) approach, where women organized in groups of 15–20 receive training in savings, credit management, leadership, and record keeping, meet weekly to discuss financial and social matters, and plan income-generating activities. Across Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Chiro, and Amhara Region, over 5,000 women benefited, mobilizing more than Birr 5,000,000 in savings and disbursing over Birr 8,500,000 in internal loans, enabling them to start and expand micro and small businesses.
To ensure sustainability, Pro Pride supported the formation of Cluster Level Associations (CLAs), each composed of representatives from 8–10 mature SHGs, providing training on leadership, monitoring, project planning, and government networking. At a broader level, the organization helped establish a Federation of Self-Help Groups in Addis Ababa through COSAP, amplifying women’s voices, strengthening advocacy, and promoting the national scaling-up of the SHG approach to enhance social and economic empowerment across Ethiopia.
Core Strategy Overview
| Strategy | Key Elements |
|---|---|
| Self‑Help Groups (SHGs) | Women grouped into units of 15–20. Trained in savings, financial literacy, and business planning. |
| Cluster-Level Associations (CLAs) | 8–10 SHGs form CLAs to coordinate community action, training, and peer support. |
| Federation & Networking | CLA networks led to regional federations; Pro Pride worked with COSAP to amplify women’s voices and mobilize community resources. |
Impact at a Glance
Women mobilized across four regions through SHG/CLA methods.
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Birr mobilized in savings
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Disbursed in loans by end of 2017
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Clients enrolled in Gasha microfinance by 1998 as part of institutionalization efforts
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How It Works
Pro Pride conducts participatory wealth ranking to identify potential SHG members.
SHGs and later CLAs form and receive orientation on savings, bookkeeping, leadership, and record-keeping.
Groups save regularly—typically weekly. Savings are pooled and credit is offered through group-guaranteed loans.
Gasha was licensed in 1998 by the National Bank of Ethiopia (Proclamation No. 40/1996) to absorb the savings and credit scheme and to provide regulated loans for SHG members
Active CLAs cluster to federate and establish linkages with government, local NGOs, and COSAP to amplify influence.
Enabled by training and credit, members start or expand micro-enterprises and play leading roles in community mobilization.
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Contact Us
Email: info@propride.org
Phone: +251 11 663 0144 | +251 91 120 0602
Address: Sister NGOs Building, Yeka Sub‑city, Woreda 9 (near Athletics Federation), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Branches:
– Dire Dawa: Kezira, Kebele 03 – Tel: +251 25 112 5143
– Addis Ababa: Lideta Sub‑City,