Colorado Enterprise Development for Africa

Colorado Enterprise Development for Africa (CEDA) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2023 to catalyze economic recovery and empowerment for women in post-conflict East Africa. CEDA was born out of a moral imperative: to restore dignity, agency, and opportunity to women who have survived war, displacement, and systemic poverty, particularly in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

 Mission Statement:

 CEDA’s mission is to empower war-affected women in East Africa through grassroots economic development, trauma-informed support, and community-driven financial systems.

 Vision Statement:

 CEDA envisions a future where every woman, regardless of circumstance, has the tools, capital, and community support to rebuild her life, contribute to her local economy, and shape a more equitable society.

 CEDA’s founding initiative in Axum, Ethiopia, demonstrated the power of micro-enterprise as a vehicle for healing and transformation. By providing interest-free loans, financial literacy training, and mentorship, CEDA enabled 50 women to launch businesses that now support their families and communities. The organization’s model is built on three pillars:

•  Grassroots Capital: Peer-to-peer lending through diaspora “Giver Agreements”
• Local Partnership: Implementation through trusted NGOs like Berhan Natna Charity Organization
• Community Ownership: Volunteer loan committees and rotating repayment pools

CEDA operates with a lean management structure, anchored by a volunteer board, CEO, and part-time staff, and maintains rigorous financial oversight. Its formal agreement with Berhan Natna outlines shared responsibilities for program delivery, monitoring, and reporting, ensuring transparency and cultural competence.

CEDA’s programs are designed to center the voices and needs of war-affected women, GBV survivors, and displaced individuals. Inclusiveness is embedded in every stage, from beneficiary selection to training design to governance structures. The organization prioritizes:

 Trauma-informed facilitation

• Language accessibility
• Peer mentorship
• Community-led decision-making

 CEDA also fosters cross-border solidarity by engaging communities in funding and storytelling, bridging geographic and emotional divides.