GIZ–SRVC Project
The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Government, is implementing the Strengthening Rural Value Chains (SRVC) Project. The project aims to extend EHPEA’s capacity-building and market-development services beyond Addis Ababa to high potential horticultural clusters, thereby contributing to employment creation, export growth, investment, and improved rural livelihoods.
Phase I: SRVC I (December 2022–December 2024)
SRVC I strengthened EHPEA’s capacity to support fruit and vegetable value chains in Amhara, Oromia, and Sidama. A major achievement was the establishment and operationalization of permanent satellite offices in Bahir Dar and Hawassa.
The first phase focused on three main areas. First, it strengthened EHPEA’s institutional reach by equipping the satellite offices with personnel, vehicles, communication tools, and other facilities, while building staff capacity in project, financial, leadership, and business management.
Second, it enhanced the capacities of commercial farms, smallholder farmers, cooperatives, and other horticultural value chain actors through needs assessments, awareness workshops, professional training, Training of Trainers, certification-related support, and international experience-sharing visits. The project also supported the digitalization of member information and communication systems.
Third, it promoted a more enabling business environment through policy dialogue with government institutions and regulatory bodies, as well as media campaigns, radio programs, videos, and public-awareness activities designed to improve sector visibility, attract investment, and strengthen support for producers.
Project implementation was coordinated by a dedicated EHPEA team and monitored through quarterly performance reviews against agreed milestones and deliverables.
Satellite Offices Launching
Avocado Post Harvest Training for Commercial and Smallholder Farms
Public Private Dialogue
Phase II: SRVC II (September 2025–December 2027)
Building on the achievements of Phase I, EHPEA and GIZ launched SRVC II under the title “Catalyzing Ethiopia’s Horticulture Value Chains for Inclusive Growth and Export Competitiveness.” The project operates across Amhara, Oromia, Central Ethiopia, South Ethiopia, Southwest Ethiopia, and Sidama.
SRVC II applies a systems-level approach to addressing key sector bottlenecks through eight interlinked components:
1. Strengthening the governance, coordination, and digitalization of EHPEA’s federal and regional platforms.
2. Supporting the development of HortiParks as hubs for postharvest handling, cold-chain services, value addition, logistics, and export readiness.
3. Expanding rural and digital extension services through trained field agents, digital tools, local-language manuals, and demonstration sites.
4. Supporting participation in national and international exhibitions, including Hortiflora Ethiopia Expo and Fruit Logistica.
5. Building capacity in food safety, quality assurance, HACCP, GLOBALG.A.P., certification, and emerging regulatory requirements such as the EU Deforestation Regulation.
6. Strengthening farmers, cooperatives, and unions through technical, organizational, entrepreneurial, gender-responsive, and youth-inclusive support.
7. Promoting the horticulture sector through media campaigns, success stories, digital communication, and public advocacy.
8. Implementing a matching-fund facility to stimulate private investment in technology, infrastructure, value addition, and sustainable production.
Together, the two SRVC phases reflect the long-standing partnership between EHPEA, GIZ, and the German Government. The project contributes to stronger institutions, improved producer capacities, enhanced compliance, expanded market access, increased investment, and better employment and livelihood opportunities, while strengthening Ethiopia’s competitiveness in regional and global horticultural markets.
Horti-Park Development
Capacity Building Training
HortiFlora Expo
