Mekelle/Tel Aviv/Nairobi/Pretoria/London፡
Horizon SACCO Expands Rapidly as Woman-Led Cooperative Emerges as New Economic Player
By Chekole Alemu
Horizon Savings and Credit Cooperative has recorded one of the fastest early expansions in Ethiopia’s cooperative finance sector, opening three branches within less than two months of its establishment. Founded on 9 December 2025 in Mekelle, Tigray, the cooperative recently inaugurated its third branch in Addis Ababa, positioning it as the first SACCO in the country to achieve such growth within a short period after registration.
The rapid expansion reflects rising demand for accessible financial services and highlights the role of community based finance in post conflict recovery. The Addis Ababa branch is expected to strengthen capital mobilization, improve national financial linkages, and support investment flows into Tigray.
The cooperative is led by Abrehet Ayele, a woman entrepreneur from Tigray whose leadership has been widely credited for driving Horizon SACCO’s accelerated growth and inclusive financial strategy. Since its establishment, the cooperative has pursued simultaneous branch expansion and product development, allowing it to scale operations while maintaining institutional stability.
Under her leadership, Horizon SACCO has introduced a range of targeted financial products tailored to diverse segments of society. These include child savings accounts, home construction savings and credit schemes, transport sector focused financial services, and savings mechanisms designed for elderly and vulnerable households. The cooperative has also launched a salary based credit facility for civil servants, enabling eligible members to access loans of up to 500,000 birr through salary backed guarantees and enabling eligible members to access loans of up to 10 million birr without conventional collateral or third party guarantees, relying instead on income based assessment and internal cooperative mechanisms.
In addition, Horizon SACCO plans to expand inclusive financial services for women and persons with disabilities, alongside flexible credit arrangements for veterans. According to the cooperative, these products are designed to support income generation, ease liquidity constraints, and promote small scale enterprise development, particularly among communities affected by the war.
As part of its corporate social responsibility commitments, Horizon SACCO has announced that it will grant founding membership to 100 women, including women with disabilities and veterans. The cooperative will cover the full cost of membership, enabling beneficiaries to access credit facilities, establish small businesses, and participate in vocational training programs. Beneficiaries will be identified by the Tigray Bureau of Women and Children through a transparent selection process.
Looking ahead, Horizon SACCO has outlined plans to expand it’s credit into broader investment areas including real estate, construction, agriculture, import export trade, health services, and technology. These sectors are expected to contribute to job creation and long term economic recovery in Tigray.
Analysts note that cooperatives such as Horizon SACCO can play a central role in post conflict economic rebuilding by mobilizing savings, extending affordable credit, and supporting micro and small enterprises. Horizon SACCO’s rapid branch expansion has already generated new employment opportunities in finance, administration, and customer services, with further job creation anticipated as the cooperative continues to grow.
With its fast expansion, diversified credit products, and women led leadership, Horizon SACCO is emerging as a significant new player in Ethiopia’s cooperative finance sector, combining commercial growth with social responsibility during a critical period of economic recovery.
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