Jemal, Abagissa (PhD)Senait, Gebremeskel2018-10-252023-11-042018-10-252023-11-042018-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/13260A thesis submitted to the Department of Public Administration and Development Management of Addis Ababa University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Public Management and Policy (MPMP)This research aims to identify the role of EDC in creating suitable environment for start-up women-owned Micro and Small Enterprises in Addis Ababa, and assess EDC’s contributions towards filling the skill gaps and the financial problems that most women-owned MSEs face at the start-up stage. Data were gathered distributing questionnaires and an in-depth interview made with key informants. From a total of 104 ETW and WET women trainees at EDC in 2014, a sample size of 83 is taken using simple random sampling method. As per the findings of the study, EDC’s role towards skill development and change in entrepreneurial mindset is found to be beneficial to those women trainees. The partnership that EDC has created with Enat Bank is found to be another way of creating an enabling environment to those women owned MSEs because even though low in number, about 18 women with low income trained at EDC have benefited from the collateral free loan and 139 are in waiting list applying for the loan. The fact that those trained women gained new skills and knowledge relevant to running and creating a business; increased their motivation and self-confidence in their entrepreneurial abilities, and are able to employ more employees and increased their capital/total asset is found to be a positive result, the training alone may not guarantee for the achievement of the objectives of the programs of EDC, unless a joint post-training follow-up and strengthened advisory services, more access to credit and working premises, creating a market linkage and other supports by the government are not incorporated. Therefore, those gaps needs remedial actions to be taken by the center, the government, donors and others who work in partnership.en-USEntrepreneurial skillMicro and Small EnterprisesWomen entrepreneursThesis