A unique street-food initiative is reshaping poultry consumption and youth employment in Ethiopia. In a bid to address urban unemployment and malnutrition, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Skills, launched a chicken-frying street stall program across four Ethiopian cities: Addis Ababa, Adama, Hawassa, and Bahir Dar. Officially rolled out in Adama in January 2024, the initiative has brought renewed hope to many unemployed youth while promoting the consumption of affordable, high-protein poultry products in urban areas.
As part of the program, 45 young individuals from the four cities were selected for intensive training. The sessions covered broiler chicken production, entrepreneurship, hygienic food preparation, customer service, and business planning. The goal was not only to help these youth launch successful chicken-frying businesses but also to equip them with sustainable skills in food enterprise and small business management.
To support the startups, ILRI donated essential equipment, including 10 gas and 10 electric stoves, valued at approximately USD 43,000. These tools were handed over to the Ministry of Labor and Skills to assist the trained youth in launching their operations. By removing the high barrier of startup costs, the program significantly improved the young entrepreneurs’ chances of building viable and long-lasting businesses.
Beyond economic empowerment, the initiative addresses one of Ethiopia’s most pressing public health concerns: malnutrition. The country continues to grapple with high rates of childhood stunting and wasting, often linked to protein deficiencies and poor dietary diversity. By making chicken more accessible and affordable—especially in low-income urban areas—the frying stalls are helping to improve the nutritional status of the population. The stalls offer ready-to-eat, high-protein meals that meet the growing demand for convenient, nutritious street food.
Importantly, the project promotes entrepreneurship among Ethiopia’s youth, a group that faces high unemployment and limited formal job opportunities. By enabling them to become business owners rather than job seekers, the initiative supports national goals of reducing unemployment, fostering innovation, and achieving inclusive economic growth. Some participants have even begun expanding their operations, with the potential to create additional jobs and build thriving food enterprises.
This chicken-frying model forms part of ILRI’s broader Tropical Poultry Genetic Solutions (TPGS) programme, which aims to strengthen poultry production through improved genetics, better market access, and value chain development. The initiative serves as a compelling example of how targeted investment in youth and agriculture can boost economic resilience, food security, and national development.
As urban populations grow and the need for quick, affordable meals increases, this model could become vital for urban food systems. With continued support and potential expansion, the Ethiopian government and ILRI hope these youth-run frying stalls will serve as a scalable model for youth-led development across Ethiopia and beyond.
