Zufan Zergaw founded ‘Zufan and Tsehay Construction Works Enterprise’ with her husband and nine other relatives over ten years ago. She was 28. Since then, she has served as the manager of the enterprise, gained a degree in civil engineering, and had a son. Before that, she worked as a civil servant and later for a construction contractor, building an uncommon career as a female manager in the construction field.Managing the enterprise has not always been easy. Their finances were challenged by the unstable price of inputs and the fluctuating demand from the government’s housing projects, to which they were contractually obliged to exclusively supply. They aspired to replace their old manual concrete block-making machine to improve production capacity. If they did, they would be able to cater to buyers who demanded higher quantities and quality for more money. She approached microfinance institutions for a loan but was denied every time.She even sought support from Addis Capital Goods Finance but, for various reasons, could not secure the funding. BRIDGES approached Addis Capital with an institution-to-institution arrangement, presenting a package deal to finance 15 enterprises. This collective approach proved more effective in addressing challenges that small enterprises like Zufan’s struggled to solve individually. The loan included a three-month grace period, after which enterprises needed to pay about ETB 33,000 per month for five years. “Yours is like a visit from an angel,” Zufan told Tesfaye, the consultant working with BRIDGES, when she was notified, she would receive the loan.Her enterprise, along with four others that acquired similar machines, has doubled its production capacity and increased sales by 30%. The enterprises have also hired 6-7 additional employees each, as higher production demands more labour. The new machines have ergonomic benefits, reducing the physical strain on workers. “The manual machines use hand pressure to mold the blocks, so quality could depend on how well the operator has eaten that day,” Tesfaye, ECB’s consultant, says jokingly. “More importantly, over time, such work may lead to musculoskeletal and nerve conditions.” Zufan adds, “Our workers are better off, and we confidently showcase our blocks to professional contractors of large projects.”