#StepUp: Powering Everyday Lives - ዱብ ዱብ ለነገ!
Energy access is central to Ethiopia’s path towards inclusive growth and sustainable development. Many households and small businesses continue to face challenges linked to unreliable supply and dependence on traditional fuels.
The #StepUp / ዱብ ዱብ ለነገ! campaign illustrates through the stories of Dawit, a barber, and Yeshi, an injera baker, how energy innovations at the community level, such as solar power and electric kitchenwear, can transform livelihoods, empower entrepreneurs, and reduce environmental impact.
Solar Power for Opportunity
Dawit’s Story – The Barber
Dawit runs a small barbershop in Addis Ababa. His livelihood depends on consistent electricity for clippers and lighting, but frequent power cuts made it difficult to serve customers and grow his business.
To address this, Dawit installed a solar panel, ensuring a steady and reliable energy source. This step has enabled him to work without interruption, expand his services, and contribute more effectively to his community.
Dawit’s story shows how renewable energy solutions can create economic resilience and new opportunities.
European Union, 2025
Cleaner Energy for Health, Productivity, and Sustainability
Yeshi bakes injera every day to support her family. For years, she relied on firewood, which required long hours of collection, created heavy smoke in her home, and contributed to deforestation.
Recently, Yeshi switched to an electric stove, reducing her reliance on firewood. This change has improved her health and her working environment. It has also increased her productivity, allowing her to produce more injera and earn more income to support her family.
By stepping up to adopt cleaner technology, Yeshi demonstrates how energy access empowers women, protects forests, and strengthens communities.
European Union, 2025
Global Gateway in Ethiopia
The Global Gateway is the European Union’s flagship strategy to foster smart, clean, and secure connections globally in sectors such as digital, energy, and transport, while reinforcing health, education, and research systems. It is fully aligned with the United Nations Agenda 2030 for the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, and aims to mobilise up to €300 billion in investments through a coordinated Team Europe approach, combining EU, Member States, financial institutions, and private sector contributions.
In Ethiopia, the Global Gateway has already made a tangible impact:
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It supports the Assela Wind Farm, a Team Europe flagship project with Denmark. Its turbines began feeding clean energy into the national grid in mid-2025. Once fully operational, this wind farm will generate over 300 GWh annually, powering roughly 140 000 households and illustrating the EU’s commitment to modern, renewable infrastructure.
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Additionally, the EU Delegation in Ethiopia is actively involved in promoting the Clean Energy Transition for All, including collaboration with Ethiopian Electric Power under the Global Gateway’s RISED Ethiopia initiative.
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These developments underscore the EU’s strategic role in advancing sustainable energy access, economic resilience, and environmental protection in Ethiopia through lasting partnerships and targeted investments.
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European Union, 2025