Flow Equity is a multi-country poultry business targeting rural households. Its Ethiopian unit, EthioChicken, was founded in 2010, and the company has since expanded to Rwanda and Uganda through its Uzima Chicken subsidiary.

Uzima Chicken Ltd – one of the biggest chick producing firms in the country – has started exporting day-old chicks to different African countries. Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) described this as a good development as the country continues boosting the poultry sector.

Ethiopia’s chicken industry was almost non-existent when Dave Ellis and his co-founders Joe Shields and Trent Koutsoubos embarked, in 2010, on a bold adventure to start Flow Equity. Today the company distributes more than 25 million chickens a year in Ethiopia, and has begun expanding into Rwanda and Uganda.

Finnfund finances EthioChicken, which aims to improve food security and reduce poverty in Ethiopia. By producing chicks which will provide eggs and poultry meat, the company supports families to improve their nutrition and livelihood, particularly in rural area.

Finnfund begins to finance EthioChicken, which aims to improve food security and reduce poverty in Ethiopia. By producing chicks which will provide eggs and poultry meat, the company supports families to improve their nutrition and livelihood, particularly in rural areas.

David Ellis had never seen a chicken in his life. Today, his well-hatched idea is creating new hope in Ethiopia, a country that has long wrestled with malnutrition and famine.

The African poultry-breeding venture is not only boosting the livelihoods of people in rural areas but improving their nutrition too.