Our Programmatic Focus
The Enset Innovation Institute (EII) advances an integrated set of programmatic areas designed to unlock the full potential of Enset as a scalable, climate-resilient, and inclusive food system. Our approach combines enterprise development, scientific research, policy engagement, and global advocacy to drive sustainable impact:
Women-Led Enterprise Development
EII supports the growth of women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the Enset value chain—from processing and product development to market access and entrepreneurship. By strengthening business capacity, facilitating access to finance, and introducing appropriate technologies, we aim to transform Enset into a driver of income generation, job creation, and women’s economic empowerment.
Research Partnerships
EII collaborates with leading academic and research institutions to generate rigorous evidence on Enset systems, including agronomy, nutrition, soil health, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience. These partnerships help position Enset within global scientific discourse and ensure that scaling efforts are grounded in data, innovation, and interdisciplinary research.
Policy Alignment
EII engages with national and regional policymakers to integrate Enset into agricultural, climate, and food security strategies. By aligning with government priorities and contributing to enabling policy environments, we work to ensure that Enset is recognized as a strategic crop within broader development and climate resilience agendas.
Our Impact
The Enset transformation effort has the potential to deliver large-scale impact across several areas.
Food Security
Enset already supports millions of people and has the potential to reach many more through coordinated investment and innovation
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Processing modernization and enterprise development can significantly increase income opportunities for rural women.
Climate Resilience
As a perennial crop adapted to the Ethiopian highlands, Enset contributes to climate-resilient agricultural systems.
Women and Health
Traditional Enset processing is extremely labor intensive and largely performed by women.
In many areas women spend several hours per day performing physically demanding processing activities.
Modernizing processing systems can:
• reduce labor burdens
• improve hygiene and food safety
• increase processing efficiency
• strengthen women’s economic participation
EII works to coordinate partnerships that enable these improvements to reach rural communities.
Climate and Carbon
Enset represents an important example of an indigenous crop adapted to changing environmental conditions.
Its perennial nature and integration into agroforestry systems make it relevant to conversations on climate-resilient agriculture.
EII supports research and partnerships exploring Enset’s role in climate adaptation, sustainable land management, and food system resilience.