Innovative Governance Structure
Youth Empowerment and Economic Opportunities
Outcomes and Lessons Learned
The solution’s core innovation lay in its governance structure. A steering
committee chaired by the Woreda Office of Agriculture brought together
research institutions, finance offices, and cooperatives. This platform united 16
stakeholder groups, including seven cement manufacturers, agro-dealers, and
NGOs like GIZ and AGRA. Monthly steering meetings and quarterly multi-
stakeholder forums ensured coordinated action across the supply chain.
Youth empowerment had become a hallmark of the initiative. The project directly
engaged 2,247 young people in limestone extraction, lime production,
transportation, and distribution. These roles transformed the youth from
bystanders to active participants in creating solutions while addressing critical
last-mile delivery challenges.
The results demonstrated the power of
collaborative action. Farmers gained access to
lime through streamlined distribution systems,
while youth found new economic opportunities.
The platform’s real-time tracking and coordinated
logistics ensured timely delivery before planting
seasons. Perhaps most significantly, the initiative
broke down traditional silos, creating
unprecedented cooperation between farmers,
industrial partners, and government agencies.
21