eLearning and Knowledge Management System for the Ethiopian Horticulture Sector (HortiCampus and HortiLibrary)
Implementation Partners
The Ethiopia Agricultural Authority (EAA) and Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA)
Implementation Period
April 2024 - March 2027
Project Participants
More than 120 EHPEA member firms producing and exporting cut flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs, as well as horticulture workers, managers, technical specialists and other sector stakeholders
Funding Partner
European Union
Project Rationale
Ethiopia’s horticulture sector contributes to export earnings, employment and participation in international value chains. According to EHPEA, the sector generated more than US$564 million in export earnings and supported over 200,000 jobs in 2017-18.1 Women make up a substantial proportion of the workforce, particularly in flower farms, packing facilities and other labour-intensive parts of the value chain. However, access to international markets increasingly depends on producers’ ability to meet plant-health, food-safety, traceability, environmental and other technical requirements. Limited access to training, current regulatory information and technical guidance can affect productivity and make it more difficult for businesses to demonstrate compliance. Traditional classroom-based training can also be difficult and costly to deliver consistently across firms and production locations. Workers may be unable to leave their workplaces for extended periods, while smaller firms may have limited resources to participate in regular in-person training. HortiCampus and HortiLibrary address these constraints by digitising training, knowledge sharing and professional development. The platforms give producers, exporters, managers, workers and technical specialists remote access to training courses, compliance resources, technical publications and practical guidance. By expanding access to sector knowledge and supporting continuous learning, the project aims to strengthen the capacity of Ethiopian horticulture businesses to respond to evolving market requirements and compete in domestic, regional and international markets
TMA’s Contribution
TradeMark Africa supported the design, development, testing and deployment of the HortiCampus eLearning platform and HortiLibrary knowledge repository. This included support for stakeholder engagement, digital infrastructure, system development, knowledge-management architecture and institutional capacity strengthening to enable sustainable ownership and management of the platform by EHPEA.
Funding Attribution
This project is financed by the European Union under Global Gateway, with funding delegated to Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and implemented by TradeMark Africa (TMA) in partnership with the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association and relevant sector institutions.
Implementation Strategy
The project promotes digital transformation in Ethiopia’s horticulture sector through an integrated approach to learning, knowledge management and institutional capacity strengthening.
Implementation Approach:
1. Digital Learning and Capacity Building
Development of a mobile-accessible eLearning platform that provides scalable access to compliance, technical and professional-development training for exporters, managers and workers across the horticulture value chain.
2. Knowledge Management and Institutional Learning
Creation of a centralised knowledge repository containing technical publications, standard operating procedures, videos, guidance materials and regulatory information that can be continuously updated and accessed by industry stakeholders.
3. Sector Ownership and Sustainability
EHPEA retains ownership of the platform, ensuring long-term sustainability, local stewardship and continued adaptation to emerging industry needs and regulatory requirements.
4. Digital Inclusion and Accessibility
The platform is accessible through computers and mobile devices, expanding access to training opportunities for firms and workers that have traditionally faced barriers to participating in in-person learning programmes
5. Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration
The system promotes peer learning, sector-wide information exchange and institutional memory through structured content, shared resources and digital engagement tools
Current Progress
Platform development and launch
- HortiCampus and HortiLibrary were launched on 29 May 2025 following platform development, testing and validation.
- The platforms were formally handed over to EHPEA for management and continued development.
Courses and knowledge resources
- HortiCampus hosts over 30 published courses across four categories: compliance, Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training, extension services and professional skills.2
- HortiLibrary contains over 100 technical publications and other knowledge resources supporting learning, compliance and dissemination of horticulture practices.3
- A network of 15 trainers and subject-matter experts supports content development and course delivery.
Uptake and digital learning
- Over 1,000 learners have enrolled on HortiCampus since its launch.3
- More than 1,300 course certificates have been issued through the platform.3 Individual learners may complete several courses and therefore receive more than one certificate.
- Approximately 60% of EHPEA-led courses have transitioned to digital delivery, exceeding the programme target of 40%.
2 Ethiopia Country Programme Annual Review Assessment Brief (2025).
3 EHPEA HortiCampus & HortiLibrary Progress Report (2025).
