MBA agribusiness Ethiopia in the making

MSM started in September with a multi-year project with Jimma University in Ethiopia to set an Executive MBA Agribusiness in the market. This program will be the first of its kind in Ethiopia. MSM will implement the project in cooperation with Wageningen University & Research centre, Stellenbosch University, and Q-Point BV. Funding is made available by the Netherlands government (EP-Nuffic).

The project has the broader ambition to achieve increased food security and agricultural growth in Ethiopia, create better access for Ethiopians to more and more nutritious food, and contribute to increased trade relations between Ethiopia and the Netherlands. Within this context, the project is developing the academic and organizational capacity of Jimma University to manage an internationally accredited executive MBA in Agribusiness (run with public and private finance) that delivers graduates with requisite knowledge, skills, and right attitude necessary to be competitive in a global environment and responsive to labor market and gender needs. In addition, an agribusiness leadership center will be set up, offering market-driven executive training programs, consultancy, contract research, and stakeholder seminars. In this development, Jimma University will be able to learn from the experience of MSM’s partner Stellenbosch University where the only agribusiness leadership center in Africa is located.

Much is written about the impressive economic growth of Ethiopia with a government policy targeting to become a middle income country by 2025. Expansion of the agricultural sector accounts for a large part of this growth. Currently, several efforts are undertaken by government, donors and the private sector to strengthen and enlarge Ethiopia’s agribusiness sector within the view of further economic growth. Strengthening the agribusiness sector asks for energetic, skilled people that can drive business development and are able to manage organizations. This is where Ethiopian higher education plays an important role, culminating in, for instance, this initiative for an Agribusiness Executive MBA.

In these developments, Jimma University plays a pivotal role, among others because of its strong agricultural profile, resulting from the origin of the university that lies in the College of Agriculture (founded in 1952). Jimma University is a reputable academic institution, part of the group of first generation public universities in Ethiopia among which it is ranked first for the last five consecutive years according to national review mechanisms. In addition, driven by its slogan “we are in the community”, Jimma University has registered remarkable achievements and cultivated an excellent reputation in its role in the regional, social, and community development. The university is the pioneer in the community-based education program in the country, in which academic and research activities are geared to solving community problems. Currently the partnership relations are predominantly with (semi-) governmental institutions, more than with (agri)business actors. In particular these business linkages are meant to be intensified strongly with the support of this new NICHE project.

The final beneficiaries of this project are middle-management of agribusiness related industry and other agribusiness-related managers in Ethiopia, in particularly women, as well as agribusiness entrepreneurs, and companies and organizations sending staff to attend the EMBA or training programs, or participate in research.