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Specialist Assignments > Case Study - Sue Lowe

Small business advisor in Ethiopia

Sue managed her own handicrafts business in Wales for many years. Her knowledge of the manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing of handicrafts and jewellery are complimented by her invaluable business management skills. She travelled to Ethiopia in September 2005.

Sue spent a month working in and around Addis Ababa as a small business advisor with the Micro and Small Enterprise Development Programme. She worked with a total of 10 different businesses including weavers, leather workers, wood carvers and potters, providing business counselling and technical support. Many of the enterprises were established and are staffed by women’s groups, who take great pride in using traditional methods, designs and materials to produce their art. Sue worked alongside an Ethiopian enterprise adviser who followed up on Sue’s advice after she’d returned home.

Sue also travelled to Harar and visited another 10 handicraft associations that she’d worked with during the previous year. She followed up on the progress that had been made and discovered that nearly all of the associations had made significant improvements with increased sales, new products and markets, as well as many new staff and trainees. As a result of Sue’s input, 30 weavers and 2 leather workers have been accepted to receive further training from a charitable training body based in UK.