The two-year conflict in Northern Ethiopia has left deep scars on the Afar, Amhara, and Tigray regions, displacing millions and devastating communities. Women, among the most vulnerable, lost their livelihoods as businesses collapsed and economic opportunities vanished. In response, UNDP Ethiopia launched the “Rebuild Her Business” initiative, a crowdfunding campaign aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs to restore their businesses and rebuild their lives. 
Between September 2023 and February 2024, the campaign raised $388,922, enabling 775 women from Afar, Amhara, and Tigray to restart their enterprises with grants and business development support. The field mission, conducted from January 27 to February 5, 2025, documented the impact of this initiative through touching stories and visuals from beneficiaries. 
This document presents nine selected stories of businesswomen across the three regions (Afar, Amhara and Tigray) to highlight not only the economic recovery but also the courage, determination, and resilience that define those women. 
 
Alem Hagos, a resilient businesswoman and single mother from Northern Ethiopia, faced immense hardship after the 2020 conflict devastated her hometown and destroyed her once-thriving houseware business. Forced to flee with her family, she lost everything to looting and destruction, including goods hidden at her brother’s house. Despite these traumatic setbacks, Alem refused to surrender to despair. With limited capital, she restarted her livelihood by opening a modest shop selling essential household and cleaning items, walking long distances to restock and rebuild her life from scratch. 
Her turning point came through UNDP’s Rebuild Her Business initiative, which provided her with essential business training and a rehabilitation grant of ETB 30,000. This support enabled her to stabilize and grow her business, now earning weekly profits from grain trading at the Hawzen market. Alem uses this income to support her household and her daughter’s education while slowly replacing what was lost. She continues to inspire others with her determination, aiming to expand her business and encouraging other women affected by the war to remain resilient and hopeful in the face of adversity. 
 
Nurayni Wehabrebi, a businesswoman from Korar in Hawzien, Tigray, once led a stable life, supporting her six children through a successful crop trading business. She earned enough to live comfortably and independently. However, the outbreak of war in 2020 devastated her village and destroyed her livelihood. Her business was looted, and she suffered severe emotional and financial hardship. Despite this, she began rebuilding by walking long distances to trade small items, though her efforts were limited due to lack of capital. 
Her situation improved when UNDP selected her for the Rebuild Her Business Initiative. Through business training and a 30,000 ETB grant, she revived her grain trading business and now earns a weekly profit, regaining peace of mind and financial stability. Nurayni also supports other women affected by the war, advocating for broader access to recovery programs. She dreams of expanding her business further and remains a symbol of resilience and hope in her community. 
 
Letechal Gebre Egziabher, once a thriving businesswoman and mother of five in Northern Ethiopia, saw her successful retail business destroyed when war broke out. Formerly self-reliant and supporting both her children and extended family, she lost everything when militants raided her shop and home. With her son enlisted in the war and her family in danger, she fled to the mountains, surviving on minimal resources. Post-conflict, she took a loan from Dedebit Micro Finance but struggled under high interest and rising living costs. 
Her turning point came when she received support from the UNDP’s Rebuild Her Business Initiative. With a grant of ETB 30,000, she rebuilt her workplace and began regaining financial stability. Today, Letechal earns up to ETB 15,000 in a single day and plans to expand into new sectors like dry foods and photography. Her story reflects resilience and transformation, as she encourages other women to work hard and remain self-reliant. Driven by a vision to create a stable future for her family and others affected by conflict, Letechal stands as a symbol of strength and determination. 
 
Zebiba Mohammed, a native of Bededo Kebele in Northern Ethiopia, was the proud owner of a successful coffee shop before the war devastated her region. Her business provided financial stability, and she had plans to expand and renovate her home. However, when conflict erupted, Zebiba and her family were forced to flee, leaving behind everything. Upon returning, she found her house burned and her shop completely looted. Despite the emotional and material losses, she remained determined to rebuild, relying initially on support from friends and family while seeking more sustainable solutions. 
Her opportunity came through the UNDP’s Rebuild Her Business Initiative, which provided her with ETB 30,000 in financial aid and training. Though the support didn’t fully cover her losses, it allowed Zebiba to restart her business and regain a sense of purpose. She invested the funds in essential supplies and resumed operations, facing inflation and resource scarcity with resilience. The training emphasized the importance of adaptability and persistence, values Zebiba now embodies. With plans to diversify her offerings and expand her business, she is steadily working toward a brighter future for herself and her children, proving the strength and determination of women entrepreneurs in post-conflict recovery. 
Aminat Dawd, a 38-year-old mother of three, lived a stable life as a successful retailer in Northern Ethiopia before war disrupted her world. Earning up to 3,000 birrs daily, she took pride in providing for her family. However, the outbreak of war forced her to flee with her children, leaving behind everything. Upon returning, she found her home and business destroyed, surrounded by scenes of violence and devastation. The trauma was immense, yet Aminat’s determination to protect and provide for her family never faltered. She began rebuilding by selling goods from her veranda, walking long distances to source products despite physical exhaustion. 
A turning point came when Aminat was selected for the UNDP’s Rebuild Her Business Initiative. With a 30,000-birr grant and business management training, she was able to repair her shop and restock essentials. Though the road to full recovery is still ongoing, her income is improving, and her hope has been reignited. Now, she dreams of expanding her business, renovating her home, and even entering import and export. Aminat’s journey—from comfort to crisis and now toward recovery—highlights the power of resilience, determination, and timely support in rebuilding lives shattered by conflict. 
Beshewa Gidelew, a 54-year-old woman from Bededo town in South Wollo, ran a successful poultry farm and food business before war broke out in northern Ethiopia. Her daily earnings of up to 3,000 birr supported her family and grandchildren’s education. However, the conflict forced her to flee to Dessie, leaving behind her home and livelihood. Her poultry farm was looted and destroyed, resulting in total financial loss. Despite the devastation, Beshewa remained determined to rebuild her life from nothing. 
Recognizing her resilience and hard work, local Kebele authorities and UNDP partners selected her for the Rebuild Her Business Initiative. She received business training and a 30,000-birr grant, which allowed her to buy 45 chickens and restart her poultry enterprise. Today, Beshewa earns about 500 birr daily from egg sales and has regained financial and social stability. Grateful for the support, she now shares her knowledge with other women and dreams of expanding her business by opening a shop. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, community support, and the power of rebuilding from loss. 
Kayriya Ismael Dawud, a mother of ten from the Afar region, once sustained a thriving livelihood through retail, livestock, and farming. Her business, which sold essential goods like coffee and rice, alongside income from crops and animals, allowed her to support her family and build a stable life. However, the war in northern Ethiopia devastated everything she had built. Violence and road blockages destroyed her shop, her livestock and savings were lost, and she witnessed personal tragedies—including the murder of her son-in-law and the disappearance of one of her sons. With her family torn apart and her assets gone, Kayriya faced overwhelming loss. 
Amid this devastation, the UNDP’s Rebuild Her Business Initiative offered Kayriya a lifeline. With financial and material support, she restocked her shop and revived a poultry farm, creating a reliable income stream and renewing her sense of purpose. Though she still grapples with the emotional toll of war, Kayriya has reclaimed her role as a provider and community member. Her determination, paired with timely support, has enabled her to begin anew. She now advocates for peace and infrastructure restoration, believing that security is key to lasting recovery. Kayriya’s story is a powerful example of courage, resilience, and the life-changing impact of empowerment. 
 
Tebere G/egziabher, a 70-year-old mother of four, was a successful spice vendor before the war in northern Ethiopia upended her life. Her business provided steady income and allowed her to invest in livestock, securing a comfortable life for her family. However, the outbreak of conflict forced her to flee to Semara, Afar. In her absence, her shop was looted and destroyed, and she lost all her property, including her animals. Returning home, Tebere faced the grim reality of starting from scratch with no capital and a collapsed local economy. 
Determined to rebuild, Tebere joined the UNDP’s Rebuild Her Business Initiative, receiving both financial aid and business management training. With this support, she restocked essential goods and restarted her business on a small scale. The training empowered her to better manage finances, reinvest profits, and improve customer relations. Though her enterprise hasn't fully returned to its former size, it is steadily growing. Tebere now supports her family and shares her knowledge with other women in the community, embodying resilience and the positive impact of timely intervention and skill-building support. 
 
Ayisha Nuri, a 20-year-old mother and retailer, was once the proud owner of a thriving retail business in northern Ethiopia. Her successful shop allowed her to support her family, invest in local savings, and build a stable life at a young age. However, the 2020 war forced her to flee on foot with her infant, leaving behind everything. Her shop was looted and burned, and her home ransacked, leaving her traumatized and without a source of income. The devastating loss left Ayisha in debt and uncertain about how to start over. 
Despite the hardships, Ayisha’s resilience pushed her forward. With support from the UNDP’s Rebuild Her Business Initiative, she received financial assistance to restock her shop with basic goods and gradually rebuild her livelihood. The program helped her regain confidence, repay her debts, and invest in essential equipment like a refrigerator. Though her earnings haven’t yet reached pre-war levels, her business now sustains her family and fuels her dreams of expansion. Ayisha’s journey of recovery underscores the importance of perseverance and inspires other women to overcome adversity with determination and courage.