A Proud Moment for the EDI Family, Kibret Abebe Honored with 2026 Schwab Foundation Global Award

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) is thrilled to celebrate a monumental achievement within our entrepreneurial family. Kibret Abebe, a visionary leader and the Founder & CEO of Tebita Ambulance, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Schwab Foundation Global Award for Social Entrepreneurship.

Kibret’s journey—which began as a response to a critical, life-or-death gap in Ethiopia’s emergency care system—has earned him a seat at the global table of innovation. Announced at the World Economic Forum, this award recognizes Kibret as one of only 21 social entrepreneurs worldwide dedicated to building solutions that create lasting, systemic change.

A nurse anesthetist by training and a long-standing partner in our entrepreneurial ecosystem, Kibret founded Tebita Ambulance to address the historical lack of organized emergency services in Ethiopia. Under his leadership, Tebita has pioneered pre-hospital care, professional ambulance services, and first-aid training—saving countless lives and setting a gold standard for emergency response nationwide.

Beyond service delivery, Kibret’s work reflects the core values we champion at EDI: innovation, sustainability, and systemic impact. By strengthening health systems and expanding first-responder training, Tebita Ambulance serves as a prime example of how social enterprises can solve national challenges through business-led solutions.

The Schwab Foundation Award places Kibret among a global community of innovators who have collectively improved the lives of nearly one billion people across 190 countries. This recognition highlights the undeniable power of Ethiopian innovation on the global stage.

In a landmark moment for the country, the same day Kibret received this international honor, Ethiopia reached a milestone: the Council of Ministers officially approved the nation’s first-ever Entrepreneurship Development Policy. This policy stresses the government’s commitment to the public-private partnerships and entrepreneurial leadership that Kibret has championed throughout his career.

As we celebrate this dual success, EDI reaffirms its commitment to nurturing more leaders like Kibret—entrepreneurs who do not just build businesses, but build the future of our nation.

Congratulations, Kibret Abebe! Your EDI family is immensely proud of you.