UN Women, partners enhanced capacities of 364 Women Leaders in Ethiopia

Despite some improvements in the last decade, in Ethiopia, women’s representation in public leadership and decision making is still minimal. With this background, UN Women Ethiopia has been working closely with local partners to increase women’s effective participation and equal representation in leadership and decision making by employing tailored strategies. Building the capacity of women leaders on transformative leadership for gender equality is among key strategies utilized.  In the year 2024, UN Women capacitated 364 women leaders from different regions. Women leaders who benefited from the training programs have now gained new skills and knowledge on being transformative and influential leaders which will contribute to their effort to tackle various gender inequalities persisting in their respective regions. 

Rukiya Endris is the Deputy Administrator of Kedida Kebele in Kombolcha City Administration of the Amhara region. She is one of the women who participated in Transformative Leadership for Gender Equality (TLGE) training and mentorship initiative by Amhara Bureau of Women, Children and Social Affairs (BoWCSA ) in partnership with UN Women. She recalls the challenges she used to face including difficulty to accept harsh criticisms from her colleagues due to lack of confidence. This was also reflected in her personal relationships. 

“While I was in this critical situation, I participated in a five-day day training on personal development, transformative leadership, gender equality, time management, crisis leadership and women's role in peace and security skills in May 2024. I also got a mentorship and networking opportunity in August 2024. Through the training skills and mentorship support I gained I have brought many changes in my life and career. I have boosted my self-confidence. I also learned resilience, persistence and servanthood from the training and mentorship support,” she said. 

Another participant of TLGE training, Kokebe Seid, has also similar feeling. Kokebe is currently Head of the Inspection and Ethics Commission of South Wollo Zone, Amhara region. 

According to Kokebe, before the training she was in intense grief and sadness, because she lost her husband and children during the Northern Ethiopia conflict. 

Kokebe participated in the training focusing on transformative leadership for gender in September 2022. She also took part in the mentorship programme and gained in a mentorship and coaching skills. She participated in August 2024, for the second time, to support a mentee, another aspiring leader.

“Both the TLGE training and the mentorship journey helped me improve my work, personal and social life. The training improved not only my abilities but also rekindled my passion for leadership. It gave me back my confidence and enabled me to learn from other women,” Kokebe said.

Mr. Solomon Kindu, the Director of Gender and Inclusion Directorate at Amhara BoWCSA, highlighted the impact of UN Women-supported capacity development and mentorship interventions in the region. He said UN Women has worked with Amhara BoWSCA since 2017 and built the capacity of many women leaders and aspirants at all levels to increase the participation of women in public life. 

Mr. Solomon Kindu, Director of Gender and Inclusion Directorate, Amhara BoWCSA. Photo/UN Women/Desalew Alehegn

Mr Solomon also noted that the conflict in the northern part of Ethiopia and the current ongoing conflict in Amhara region affected the participation and representation of women in leadership and decision-making positions since 2021. Women leaders have resigned from their leadership positions due to the conflicts. UN Women’s support was vital in alleviating the impact through TLGE trainings and mentorship program. 

“The training and the mentorship linkages have improved the leadership, personal and social lives of the women leaders. The women leaders are aspirants have improved their self-confidences and held leadership positions.” He spoke. 

UN Women and Amhara BoWCSA, with funding from the government of the Netherlands have been implementing a project “Enhancing Women’s Leadership and Empowerment Project in Amhara region” since 2017. The project employed multipronged strategies including capacity building and mentorship for aspirant young women and lower-level women leaders, men political leaders’ engagement as well as advocacy and awareness promotion.