Presidential Leadership Program launched  

The Presidential Leadership Program that aims to create able women leaders and decision makers in Ethiopia was officially launched on 1 February 2022 at the African Leadership Excellence Academy. The launch was attended by H.E  Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Alemitu Umed, State Minister, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Ms. Letty Chiwara, UN Women’s Representative to Ethiopia, Africa Union (AU) and Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA),  Dr. Mehret Debebe, the Director of  the African Leadership Excellence Academy, and others participants.

In her opening remarks to the launch, Ms. Letty acknowledged the continued effort of the Government of Ethiopia to increase women’s participation in leadership and decision making including the leadership of the country by a  female president as well as the increased representation in the recent general elections held in the country.  

Ms. Letty stated the program came at a critical juncture when filling the gender gap in leadership at lower levels is needed.

“As we celebrate and appreciate the fact that we are having  more women in senior leadership positions, we are also cognizant that at the regional level and other senior level positions within the civil service, civil society organizations and the private sector, the number of women is very low, and we need many more women in  leadership positions.”

H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde on her part stated the Government’s commitment towards women inclusive transformation underlining the fact that without women and men equal participation and resource sharing, the country cannot be free from poverty and conflict. She highlighted the Government’s goal to make women’s leadership and decision-making role in all Government sectors at fifty percent in ten years.

The ten-day training program targeting over sixty middle-level women leaders is expected to contribute to enhance women leadership and participation in decision making in the country.

H.E. Alemitu Omut, State Minister, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, also noted that the Government is committed to increasing the number of women in leadership and decision-making positions through tailored strategies and coordinated effort of all stakeholders.

Being a flagship initiative by H.E. President Sahle-Work Zewde and  generously funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, the Presidential Leadership Program aims to bridge the gap in women’s participation in leadership and decision-making positions in Ethiopia, targeting women leaders at federal and regional middle level leadership positions as well as women leaders in the private and CSO sectors.