Cultivating New Leaders in Ethiopia’s Largest Industrial Park

A Women Leadership Development Program designed by the International Labour Organization to empower women workers at garment and textile manufacturing enterprises through soft and technical skill trainings and on-job coaching is nurturing new leaders in Hawassa Industrial Park of Ethiopia. 

Through on job coaching and mentoring by trained senior supervisors/mentors and ILO trainers, this ILO program helps young women factory workers gain new skills and climb new hierarchies in the career ladder.

Hareg Gemeda was originally hired as a production supervisor at JP Garment Ethiopia PLC in the Hawassa Industrial Park. After working for about a year got the opportunity to participate in the ILO's Women Leadership Development program as a mentor. 

The four-day training was followed by on-job mentorship. As she describes it herself, “the soft and technical skills training was motivational and important in helping me improve myself.” 

As a result, Hareg was promoted from managing one line to three production lines. 

“The coaching was not only useful for my career but also important in improving my personal life. I am now more confident and good at communicating with people. I have developed my leadership skills to manage staff under my supervision,” Hareg reckons.   

From Hirdramani Garment, another factory in Hawassa Industrial Park, Azalech Abebe who used to work as an operator also benefited from this ILO Siraye’s Women Leadership Development Programme. 

Azalech also told us how she developed her skills and got promoted to supervisory position after receiving ILO training and mentorship. She said: “Now, I am well prepared to undertake my duties as supervisor and wants to grow more in my career.” 

I hope the ILO continues to give this training for others as well. So that others can also develop their skill and get promotions in their careers, said Azalech. 

Firdous Habtamu, who is now training and Development executive in Hela Indochine Apparel PLC and Sumbri Intimiate Apparel PLC, also in the Hawassa Industrial Park was able to benefit from this ILO Training and mentorship to reach this level.     

“I have taken trainings provided by Better Work in 2021 and 2022.  I took trainings for Supervisory Skills Training. In 2023, I received a leadership training provided by ILO Better Work. 

“Before the trainings, I used to work in production lines. I did not have communication skills. I used to fight with colleagues.”

“I used to get in fight with colleagues. I was not good in planning and time management which affects my work, as I was in production.”

“After taking the leadership training, I became a trainer in the factory's training and development department. It was a good opportunity for me as it helps me improve my communication skill which makes it easy to interact with colleagues.”

"This helped me to be promoted across three grades from supervisory to executive positions.” 

ILO's Women Leadership Development program trained 191 women workers which helped 70 % of them advance in their career, professionally and financially.