The Author has a practical experience in the leather industry business and has got a privilege to know and map all important stakeholders of the value chain. The global value chain approach is well reviewed from its cradle to the grave as an approach and hence this thesis can be used as a reference for a practical global value chain analysis tool. Confidently, this thesis can give a good insight for readers to understand what global value chain approach mean in general and the leather value chain in particular; taking Ethiopia as a case.