“Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” ~ Mark Twain~

As AWiB marches on with great ambition to develop strong women leaders of this nation, we salute those great people who march on with us believing this is the only way and not just about having a voice but about changing the conversation that is required to enable growth, innovation and opportunity.

Partnership is defined among other things as a cooperative relationship between people or groups who agree to share responsibility for achieving some specific goal.  Corporations have an obligation to the society that hosts them; some call this notion as Performance with Purpose – achieving business and financial success while leaving a positive imprint on society.

AWiB, a dynamic networking association, strives to develop strong women leaders that would support the immense transformative growth of Ethiopia. Mobilizing women into leadership positions is mandatory for sustainable economic growth, global competitiveness and innovation across all industries.

AWiB, as a platform, encourages women to realize it’s high time that they actively engage their unique ability to see with wide-angle vision and sow opportunities with a passionate pursuit – as do all great pioneers that change the status quo and build new bridges.

As finance is everything in any worthwhile endeavor of our time, we forge partnership with those private entities we feel can support our cause and encourage our ambition. We invite them to a yearly partnership appreciation dinner and discuss with them what we require of them and what we give in return. Our partners all know what they get back is the good will of society which translates into the bottom line for their stakeholders and for their nation.

They also realize a corporation’s public image is at the mercy of its social responsibility programs. According to studies, 9 out of 10 consumers would refrain from doing business with a corporation with no corporate social responsibility plan.  If a company is heavily involved in the practice of donating funds or goods to local nonprofit organizations and schools, consumers are more likely to use their product. Or if a corporation takes great care to ensure the materials used in its products are environmentally safe and the process is sustainable, the public is more likely to support it.

We promote our partners and their support for responsible leadership through every means we employ for our cause and AWiB is extremely savvy about promoting responsible causes that make up fair and just society.

AWiB 2019 Partners

Impala Communication: Changing the narratives

Impala is a media agency providing a world-class service in communication strategy, message and content development for all media platforms available today.

Impala has the unique advantage of being a one-stop solution for our client’s communication needs. Our work includes managing budgets and creative deliverables to lead all phases of nationwide and international campaigns.

Our team includes editors, strategists, digital media designers, producers, photographers, film crews and film editors with a vast experience in providing/delivering media and communication solutions for prestigious companies and organizations both in Ethiopia and abroad.

“Enabling our clients to communicate the right message to the right audience”

Our vision at Impala Communication is to change the narrative of Africa that is seen by the rest of the world as failed continent… As a communication company we strongly believe we have a duty to change the narrative of Africa especially Ethiopia, bringing out the best that the country can offer to the rest of the world: its diverse culture, rich history and its endeavors to take its people out of poverty.

Partnering with AWiB aligns us with our core vision, AWiB is an organization that works hard to empower women leaders, celebrating women leaders who make extraordinary efforts to make a difference in their community on the process creating role models for the younger generation to aspire and look up to.

We at Impala are very proud to be partnering with AWiB and being able to tell stories of these extraordinary women of Ethiopia for many years to come.

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE)

CBE is the oldest bank in the country’s financial sector. In its 70 years journey the Bank has been the major finance provider for various investment and development endeavors of the public as well as the private sector. CBE is well known for pioneering the introduction of new banking services and technologies developed to make banking services more convenient to customers.

CBE’s vision is to become a world class bank by 2025. Promoting saving, strengthening its liquidity, increasing its credit disbursement to remain as the leading finance provider in the country, expanding banking service throughout the country and bringing the service closer to customers and introducing technology are listed in its priority agenda.

The major strategy promoted by the CBE is opening branches and making the service accessible in all corners of the country. CBE opens more than 100 branches annually. CBE currently has 1163 branches across the country and 3 branches in South Sudan.

The major accomplishment of the Bank is observed through extensive research to avail bank products that suit various segments of the society especially those in remote areas.

The new saving products introduced recently are:

• Youth and teens saving account
• Women especial saving account
• Interest free banking service

In addition, the introduction of card banking, mobile banking and internet banking, and wallet card have paved the way for the Bank’s journey towards the new era of banking service supported by technology.

Currently, more than 1100 branches and 18 head office organs are networked through T-24 core banking application. In the near future the network is expected to roll out to all the branches.

CBE’s Endeavors to Empower Women to the Banking Service

Though women represent almost half of the country’s population, their participation in the economic, social and political life of the society is very much limited. Taking this fact into consideration, the country’s development policy and strategy has taken the empowerment of women as a major agenda.  CBE, as the major actor in the country’s development program shares this concern and has done a lot to insure the participation of women in the financial sector.

Empowering women within the bank so that women’s interests are properly incorporated in the decision making process at various levels of management is one area of concern. The other and most important aspiration of the CBE comes from making women to have a stake in the national economic development. In this process bringing women to bank services has an important significance. Just like in the other socio-economic spheres, women were not active in going to the bank and enjoy the various services.

The commercial Bank of Ethiopian introduced a new saving program, ‘Women Special Saving Account’ just to change this scenario and to bring this great force to action.  This special bank product is meant to entitle women to various benefits. Accordingly, women who open this special account enjoy an interest rate higher than the normal interest rate and get discounts from market places where Commercial Bank of Ethiopia enters especial agreement. As the CBE provides them with A Visa Card, they don’t need to carry paper money and expose themselves to various inconveniencies. They get the discounts when they use the visa cards to make payments on Point of Sale Terminals (POS) the Bank Places at various shopping centers.

The following categories of women are entitled to this especial saving account service:

Women Associations (where only women are members) and Teenagers through their guardians or custodians)

CBE has currently signed agreements with many suppliers and service providers.  The list includes office and home furniture suppliers, Electronics Appliance suppliers, education and health service providers, shopping centers/supermarkets, gymnasiums. Women have now started to enjoy discounts when visiting these centers. CBE has supplied the centers with sufficient POS machines to make the transactions easier.

It is possible to say that this special saving account introduced to empower women to the banking service has been properly accepted by the beneficiaries. A lot of women appeared in branches found in all corners of the country to open the accounts. As a recent report shows more than 1,500,552 women so far opened accounts and it has been possible to mobilize saving which is more than 12..6 billion Birr. Their encounter with the new technology through POS, ATM, Mobile Banking and Internet Banking has been found a great achievement.  It is an encouraging achievement for a product enrolled only for less than 2 years. When the product is properly communicated through the society and when the CBE signs agreements with more suppliers and service providers the figures reported through customer base expansion and deposit mobilization expected to be more exciting. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia! The Bank You Always Relay On!

Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT)

Health professionals are the foundation of healthy families and thriving communities. CIRHT’s aim is to train the health work force of the future with comprehensive reproductive health education. It works with   universities with well-established medical, midwifery and nursing schools to integrate hands-on clinical trainings on comprehensive reproductive health, including family planning and comprehensive abortion care in to their pre-service education. Together we are committed to training the next generation of doctors, nurses and midwives to be confident, compassionate leaders in their communities.

The CIRHT Ethiopia program was   launched in February 2015 with support from the Federal Ministry of Health and the University of Michigan Health System. With a new approach to reproductive health training, CIRHT is preparing medical professionals to safeguard the health and future of women, girls and families. In this regard, CIRHT is currently working with faculty at medical schools of nine higher teaching institutions in Ethiopia to transform how reproductive health training and counseling are integrated into medical education.

As a Center of Excellence for CIRHT Ethiopia, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa is leading the way in this approach. Since adopting an integrated reproductive health training curriculum in 2012, undergraduate students at St. Paul’s have built their skills in simulation labs, supervised clinical rotations and ongoing mentoring from experienced faculty and residents.

Attaining the goals of sustainable, equitable development requires that individuals are able to exercise control over their sexual and reproductive lives. Reproductive rights are the rights of individuals to decide whether to reproduce and have reproductive health. This may include an individual’s right to plan a family, terminate pregnancy, use contraceptives, learn about sex education in public schools, and gain access to reproductive health services. Availability of trained health care provider would greatly influence women’ and girls’ access to all ranges of reproductive health services. CIRHT deeply believes that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. As a woman and girl, the way you receive your reproductive health care ought to be respectful and compassionate. Accordingly, CIRHT strives to support higher teaching institutions to produce health care providers who are competent, considerate and vigilant in the provision of reproductive health care.

We at CIRHT feel partnering with AWiB will enhance our aim to reach women in the leadership for they are the ones to take this noble dream further.

Dashen Bank SC

Dashen Bank strongly believes the role that women can play in bringing about a comprehensive and dynamic change within a society. Women have not been given a proper platform to showcase their potential. Although there have been some attempts in the past two decades, we are still long way from realizing women empowerment, which is a pivotal input for sustainable development. The hurdles and stereotypes are still blocking women from fulfilling their visions and aspirations.

Dashen Bank started its partnership with AWiB in 2013. Since then, several women at managerial position have benefited from a wide range of training offered by the Association. We do not become partners (sponsors) of such projects simply to gratify the request of the organizers. We truly believe that the platform would enable participants share experience as well as best practices. It is also a perfect opportunity to establish and expand long-lasting professional networking among participants. Furthermore, the participants would be able to enhance their leadership knowledge and skills, which in turn, would be pivotal in their day-to-day engagements at work and elsewhere.

We strongly believe that empowering women should go beyond rhetoric and lip service. We do not want to claim that we have done a lot in empowering women in our Bank. We sincerely believe that a lot remains and we are far from ensuring the role that women can play in transforming the overall picture of our Bank. We need to mentor women at lower level to become managers and the mangers, in turn, to aspire in grasping higher leadership position. Hence, we support the AWiB movement.

AMBA Pharmaceuticals P.L.C

AMBA was established in 1994 by Ambanesh Kebede. It imports and distributes pharmaceutical medicines and products, medical supplies and devices, dermatological products and food supplements as well. It represents multinational companies from Europe, the Middle East and the U.S.

With over 500 clients throughout Ethiopia, AMBA Pharmaceuticals is known to provide quality products with excellent customer services through its well organized sales structure. AMBA’s mission is to provide healthcare products that are proven of their quality, safety and efficacy at affordable prices. AMBA Pharmaceuticals serves pharmacies, hospitals, drug shops, vendor NGO’s and wholesalers, providing doorstep delivery in addition.

Recognition and Rewards:

• “The Best Achievement Award” from the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Association (EPA)
• The “Certificate for Outstanding and Successful Business Relationship” from Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company (EPHARM)
• The “Certificate of Appreciation” from the Medical Associations of Physicians in Private Practice
• The “Partner Recognition of Excellence” from Gilead Sciences of USA

Ambanesh Kebede, the Founder and CEO of AMBA Pharmaceuticals, explains why she supports AWiB.

“I wanted to be a partner of AWiB and support AWiB movement because, I always believed that in order Humanity to progress in anything, it needs one of its wings to be strengthened and FLY. I believe strongly that one wing of the bird of humanity is Women and the other Men and if both wings are not strong, there will never be Development.

“AWiB does this, in a very meaningful way and I am proud and committed to support this movement as much as I can. Congratulations AWiB team for making my dream a reality!!”
Ambi

Awash Insurance Company S.C. (AIC)

“Where there is Awash, there is peace of mind”

Awash Insurance Company S.C. (AIC), a private share company with more than 1,280 individual & Corporate Shareholders was founded on October 1, 1994. AIC started operation on January 2, 1995. AIC specializes in General Insurance & Long-term (Life) Insurance Business.

Capital ETB 300 Million as at June 30, 2018. Asset ETB 2.2 Billion.  AIC is a solid business with 24years of Business experience & profitable throughout with unshakable track record for remarkable return on Investment (ROI)   AIC is led by twelve highly qualified and experienced professional management team and employees over 514 persons.

AIC’s Reinsurance program is one of the most highly reliable arrangement in the industry.

AIC’s Outstanding Features:

• Ultramodern Headquarters building at the center of the metropolis.
• Technologically advanced and automated service in General Insurance Information system.
• Stability and remarkable business track record
• Solid foundation (our broad-based unique feature)
• Ever-growing size, national coverage, and organizational strength
• Service efficiency and transparency;
• Loyal, dedicated, young & experienced staff of growing quality
• Willingness to serve customers flexibly and innovatively
• A sister Bank, the first private bank since Liberalization of the economy three decades ago.
• Dependability of the Reinsurance Program
• Highly tailored/affordable insurance covers suitable and fit to the needs and pockets of customers

Vision: To be the leading and the best insurance service provider.

Mission Statement: AIC exists to provide diversified general and long-term insurance services to its esteemed customers with great excellence, profitably and ethics through the application of a state-of-the-art technology.

Core Values:

•  Agility
•  Winning Spirit
•  Adaptability
•  Social Responsiveness
•  Harmony Customer Base

On Partnering with AWiB: Investing on women and hunting best women talents (helping them to develop those skills) are investing on the society and the country at large. Opening up chances for women is heralding the opening up vistas in any society for change and betterment. AIC partners with AWiB based on this solid management philosophy of the strategic rewards in investing in women the pillars of any family/society/country.

E-mail: aic@awashinsurance.com / aic@ethionet.et
Facebook: Awash Insurance Company S.C
www.awashinsurance.com

Yetem Trading PLC

Yetem is a family owned cosmetics house that supplies and distributes different brands of cosmetics for the past 18 years. Yetem, driven by a good will and sense of high quality, always delivers the best of cosmetics that enhance the livelihoods of its esteemed customers.

By understanding the needs of its extensive customers from all over Ethiopia, Yetem has created an assortment of collections that has gained it a reputation to be the leading name in the cosmetics sector. By building a sustainable supply and distribution chain, Yetem is now able to reach all over Ethiopia by distributing to major cities like Hawassa, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar, Mekelle, Gonder and other cities.
Yetem is now the leading cosmetic house in Ethiopia with more than 10 reputed brands like Lolane, Algabo, Perfect, Ec1, Karis, Afrochick and much.

On partnering with AWiB:

“I want to support AWiB because I am very much in tune with your work specially the developmental work that AWiB does on young women in unleashing their potential and finding their purpose in life. I also like the motto of AWiB “Responsible Leadership” and the networking platform that AWiB affords all women in our community. Your vision:  A catalyst for Ethiopian Female leaders to connect, emerge and grow together, I believe in wholeheartedly.

I want to be part of AWiB, unleash my potential and become a responsible leader. And I support this movement with my resources, energy and my creativity that contributes to AWiB’s sustainability”.

Ekram Akill

ATTCO – Access To Trade Plc

ATTCO, a privately owned and operated company founded in 1969 and reestablished in 1997, is playing a prominent role in the development of the Ethiopia whose interest is divvied into three distinct areas: industrial development, import wholesale and retail of household goods and real estate development.

• ATTCO’s import, wholesale and retail arm was launched in May of 2012 under the name of MiHome, to offer a comprehensive collection of upscale home goods to serve the demands of the burgeoning middle class of Ethiopia.  Stocking nothing but high-quality foods, MiHome continuously strives to raise the Standards.
• ATTCO’s industrial arm provides expert inputs, advisory and electro-mechanical engineering services across the power, water, sugar, and telecom value chain by collaborating with key stakeholders, governments, utilities, multilateral donors and international manufacturers.
• ATTCO’s real estate arm is currently constructing a ground plus six story building for the company’s headquarters and other projects in the pipeline.

On Supporting AWiB: As a platform for women business professionals and women  business owners, AWIB’s ethos fits very well with ATTCO’s as both shareholders and staff are predominantly women.

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