Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Dina Investment Group

At Dina Investment Group (DIG), we are committed to fostering sustainable growth that benefits not only our business but also the communities, environment, and stakeholders we serve. As an Ethiopian-based investment firm with roots in food processing and animal feed production, our CSR initiatives are deeply intertwined with our core operations in agriculture and manufacturing. Founded in 1996 by Dina Gezahegn Taddese, DIG has grown into a key player in Ethiopia’s food security landscape, employing over 250 dedicated professionals and expanding our facilities to support local economies. Our CSR framework is guided by three pillars: Community Empowerment, Environmental Stewardship, and Ethical Governance. Below, we outline our key initiatives and ongoing commitments.

 1. Community Empowerment
We believe that strong communities are the foundation of sustainable business success. Our efforts focus on creating economic opportunities, skill development, and access to essential resources in the regions where we operate, particularly in the Oromiya Regional Government and East Shoa Zone.

– Local Employment and Training Programs: With our flour mill and animal feed processing plants spanning over 70,000m² in Awash Melkasa Town, we prioritize hiring from local communities. Over 250 employees benefit from competitive wages, on-the-job training, and career advancement opportunities. In 2024, we launched a vocational training program in partnership with local agricultural cooperatives, equipping 100+ youth with skills in food processing and livestock management to enhance employability and reduce urban migration.

– Support for Smallholder Farmers: As producers of high-quality feeds for layers, broilers, dairy, and fattening animals, we collaborate with smallholder farmers to improve yields and market access. Through our “Farmers’ Resilience Network,” we provide subsidized feed, technical advisory services, and micro-financing, impacting over 500 farming households annually and boosting local food production.

– Community Health and Nutrition Initiatives**: Recognizing the role of nutrition in community well-being, we donate fortified wheat flour, teff flour, and pasta products to school feeding programs in underserved areas. In 2025, we aim to reach 10,000 children through these efforts, addressing malnutrition while promoting our commitment to affordable, nutritious staples.

2. Environmental Stewardship
Sustainability is at the heart of our operations in the agriculture sector, where we strive to minimize our ecological footprint while maximizing resource efficiency. Our expanded facilities incorporate green practices to ensure long-term viability for Ethiopia’s arable lands.

– Sustainable Sourcing and Waste Reduction: We source 80% of our raw materials (e.g., corn, teff, and wheat) from certified sustainable farms, reducing deforestation and soil degradation. Our production processes recycle agricultural by-products into bio-fertilizers, diverting 95% of waste from landfills and supporting circular economy principles.

– Water and Energy Efficiency: In our daily production of 820 quintals of flour and animal feeds, we employ rainwater harvesting systems and solar-powered irrigation for on-site farming trials. This has reduced water usage by 30% and energy consumption by 25% since 2019, aligning with national goals for climate resilience.

– Biodiversity Conservation: Partnering with local environmental NGOs, we have planted over 5,000 indigenous trees around our Awash Melkasa site to combat erosion and enhance habitats for pollinators essential to agriculture. Our annual participation in events like the ALEC Livestock Exhibition highlights our advocacy for eco-friendly farming practices.