Practices of Gender and Development Approach in Ethiopia

Group Members
1. Asegidew Dinku…………………….Ecsu 2301726

2. Etsegenet Eshetu…………………….Ecsu2302280

3. Geneme Gaylo………………………Ecsu2302273

4.Girum Abebe…………………………Ecsu 2301704

5. Kasshun Ketema…………………....Ecsu 2301599

SUBMITTED - Endalew Addis, (PhD)

 Main Contents
1. Introduction
2. Objectives of the study
3. Main Agenda in Ethiopia Context
4. Evolution of women’s Empowerment in Ethiopia
5. Gender and Development Approach in Ethiopia Status of
Women Participation in Leadership
6. Barriers for Women to have Leadership positions
7. Lesson learned
8. Way forward
9. Conclusion
 Introduction
Gender is a social construction and codification of differences
between the sexes and social relationships between women and
men.
 Historical, ideological, cultural, religious, ethnic and economic
factors - that can be changed largely in the course of time -
influence the society’s look at gender by political, economic or
cultural influences
 Gender inequality may have adverse impacts on a number of
valuable development goals. First, gender inequality in
education and access to resources may prevent a reduction of
child mortality, of fertility, and an expansion of education on the
next generation.
 Secondly, it may be the case that gender inequalities reduce
economic growth
2. Objectives of the study

• To analyze some relevant theories of

development related to the causes of gender
equality considering from different point of view:
on gender participation by education,
employment, health and political representation
in Ethiopia corresponding to theories
development; Pinpoint the challenges and
obstacles of gender equality in different sector in
Ethiopia.
 Cont…
3. Main lesson/Agenda
1. The legal and policy frameworks of the Ethiopian
government on gender and Development.
 Federal Constitution
 Article 35 sub-articles 1-8 of the Federal Constitution, the
following gender related issues are addressed: equal rights in
marriage;
 Entitlement to affirmative action/measures;
 Protection from harmful traditional practices,
 Right to maternity leave with full pay,
 Right to consultation in projects affecting their lives;
 Property rights (to acquire, administer Control, use and transfer);
 Cont..
 Right to equality in employment (promotion, pay, pension,
entitlements) and the right to access to family planning education,
information and capacity building.
Family Law
The Revised Federal Family Code, enacted on 4 July 2000, guarantees
equality between sexes in their relation concerning marriage (Proc.
No. 213/2000). Ethiopia’s Regional States have also issued their own
Family Laws, which by and large are in line with the Federal Family
Code
Labour and Employment Laws
 Labor Law, (proclamation No. 377/2003 (Art. 87), women are not to
be discriminated against as regards to employment and payment, on
the grounds of sex
 Cont…

 Federal Public Servants Proclamation No. 262/2002 (Art. 13)], sex

based discrimination is prohibited and female candidates are given
preferential treatment to fill vacancies.
Land Use Administration Law
 The Federal Rural Land Administration Law (Proc. No. 89/97)
[15] ensures the equality of men and women regarding the use,
administration, control, transferring and bequeathing holding rights
of land
 Laws on Violence- Women the 1957 Penal Code was revised and
enforced as of July 2004. The revised Penal Code incorporated
provisions for violence against women. Under this Penal Code,
issues like female genital mutilation and other Harmful Traditional
Practices (HTP) are penalized and domestic violence is designated
as HTP.
 1. National Policies overview

 The National Population Policy adopted in 1993, also

called for the elimination of legal and customary practices
undermining women’s economic and social rights, including
property rights and access to employment .
 Since 2000, Ethiopia has been implementing three
consecutive Core Strategic Plans (globally known as
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper) of a five years term.
 the first term called Sustainable Development and Poverty
Reduction Program (SDPRP) was implemented from
2001/2-2004/5
 Cont…

 the second term: the Plan for Accelerated and

Sustainable Development to End Poverty (PASDEP)
was executed from 2005/6-2009/10.
 The third one, which is known as Growth and
Transformation Plan (GTP) is ongoing (2010-2015).
 Across all the consecutive Strategic Plans, addressing
gender disparity and empowering women has been
included as one of the Strategic Pillars
 Cont..
The following issues incorporated to promote gender
equality and women’s empowerment:
 improving the lives of women and reducing their work load
(example, by improving access to water supply, transportation
and sanitation and labour saving technologies);
 increasing girl’s access to education;
 improving health care services access and facilities related to
mothers and women’s health
 promotion of women’s participation in development policies,
 strengthening non formal education program for women;
 eradication of traditional practices harmful to women’s health;

Cont…

 implementing gender-sensitive HIV/AIDS prevention

 carry out massive and systematic training and
awareness campaign on gender equality
 adopting agricultural programs and technical and
vocational training to the needs of women
 ensuring the land holding rights of women,
 enhancing the political empowerment of women and
 enhancing the economic empowerment of women (by
increasing access to credit facilities, supporting
women to establish micro and small scale enterprises,
 2. Global Policy overview
 The women and development (WAD) approach was
later developed as alternative approach with particular
focus on achieving more efficient and effective
development through the integration of women into
existing development processes.
 Gender and Development (GAD) approach. This
approach looks at the unequal relations between the rich
and the poor and the advantaged and the disadvantaged
and the additional inequalities that women face in these
contexts
Cont….
 Empowerment approach could be effective in the
short, in the foreseeable future; GAD seems the only
approach that can bring sustainable gender equality.
The Status of Gender Disparity in Ethiopia
 national gender gaps on economic, political,
education and health criteria
1. On economic participation and opportunity: women
are bound by time-consuming household chores given
that, especially in the rural environment, there is very
limited presence of household technology
 Cont..
 On educational attainment: gender gap is still persistent at
all levels with the gap being positively correlated to the
level of education (highest gap at tertiary level);
performance of female students generally lags behind that
of male; gender based violence is negatively affecting
female students’ enrolment and performance at all levels of
education.
 On health and survival: women's low awareness on many
health issues due to low educational attainment, non-
participation at meetings due to workload and cultural
influence and inadequate penetration of the media; male
supremacy and cultural barriers
Cont…
 On political empowerment: women are still under
represented at all organs of government, particularly
at the executive branch with the gap being positively
correlated to the level of governance
4. Evolution of women’s Empowerment in Ethiopia
 The present government Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia/FDRE/ designed the first
strategy for women’s empowerment. The main trust
of the strategy was for women’s .
 The current Ethiopian constitution set up the right of
women in human and democratic rights- However,
even in reign of FDRE there is difference in power
relation between men and women.
Cont…
 FDRE has taken some measurements to tackle gender
gap by particularly working on the social, economic
and political marginalization of women in the country
which purports to measure women’s ability to control
resources, to choose and control different outcomes
and having active participation and decision making
in political, social & economic affairs of the country
particularly to have equal chance with men in all
position’s from local central leadership position
raised opportunities
Cont…
 The idea of power is at the root of the term
empowerment. Power can be understood as operating in a
number of different ways:
 Power over: This power involves an either/or relationship
of domination/subordination.
 Power to: This power relates to having decision-making
authority, power to solve problems and can be creative
and enabling
 Power with: This power involves people organizing with
a common purpose or common understanding to achieve
collective goals;
 Power within: This power refers to self-confidence, self-
awareness and assertiveness
5. Gender and Development Approach in Ethiopia
Status of Women Participation in Leadership
 Economic Opportunities — provides inclusive,
resilient income sources so women can achieve
financial independence. This expands women’s
choices and influence.
 Decision-Making — Ensures women have leadership
and sway in households, communities, and
governance. This enables women to steer policies,
budgets, and solutions.
UNDP four areas of transformation for the
gender equality & women empowerment..
6. Barriers for Women to have
Leadership positions
• Socio-cultural Barriers - Family and Home Responsibilities,
Working Conditions and Sex Discrimination, Lack of Support
Encouragement and Counseling , Socialization and Sex Role
Stereotyping
• Institutional Barriers- Discriminatory appointment and
promotion policy ,Absence of gender policy in the
organization, Absence of visible criteria for recruitment
individuals for different leadership positions, Exclusion of
women’s issue in the strategic plan of the organization,
Lack of attractive economic benefits
• Educational Barriers - Is a critical element to increases the
upward socio-economic mobility of women and creates an
opportunity to other hand, as educational background of
women becomes less.
Strategies for Women Empowerment
in Leadership position
• Increasing Female Educational Opportunities
• Expanding Economic Opportunities for Women
• Provision of specific training- Developing managerial and
competences skills: Developing competencies related to
human resources development, Leadership skills
• Restructuring Social and Work Environment
• Affirmative Action
• Gender Mainstreaming Promoting and realizing fundamental
principles and rights - Creating greater opportunities for
women and men to secure decent employment and income,
Awareness raising and capacity building activities
 7. Lesson Learned
 Performance appraisal, work experience, qualification were the major
selection criteria’s and using these measures of selection & placement
to leadership positions of schools largely affect women’s negatively.
 women’s empowerment in leadership position effective gender
sensitive planning, applying quota system during selection and
placement,
 Husbands should encourage their wife to participate in leadership
position agreed.
 Women lack self-confidence to practice in leadership positions,
 Home and family related factors are highly hindering participation of
women.
 Women leaders are less influential and acceptable by their followers
than mean leader
 Cont…
 Women leaders are wiser, emotional, stable, and responsible and entail leaders
than men counterparts.
 Men having leadership position by merit should willingly give up in order giving
greater room for women
Institutional Responsibility for Gender Development in Ethiopia
 Bureau of Education - Formulate education system which encourage female,
Introduce Gender class, Make the Education Curriculum and System more gender
sensitive, Ensure Gender balance in the community training center.

 Bureau of Information, Culture and Tourism- Make a cultural policy, Make a

marriage law, and promote family law, Formulate anti-harmful Culture, Facilitate
gender information thorough newspapers, and other media.
 Bureau of Health - Enhance maternal services, Enhance family planning,
Promote more outreach services, Train traditional birth attendants and community
health against, Promote health education, Gender balance in training for junior
health workers
 Cont…

 Civil Service Commission- Ensure equal pay for equal job, Encourage women
professionals to take high government positions, Safeguard job security for
women , Design a promotion strategy (Salary, education)
 Commission for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness
 Work program's through which Female victims (with no land and means of
Production) can have a sustainable support, Give priority to women and
children, Create a gender sensitive appraisal system for NGO projects
 Justice office - Clear women cases very quickly, Study on most frequent women
cases and conduct training on solving them, Train traditional courts.
 Kebele Administration- Encourage women participation in decision making
and benefits from dev't work, Create awareness about gender equality in all
occasions, Encourage involvement of women in various development
committees, Organize grass root level women organization &Support women
association by providing offices, land etc.
 8. Way forwarded

1- (For Actors: Development Partners)

 The Civil society organizations could build on their community level
experience and work with grassroots organizations to promote gender
equality and women’s empowerment agenda by taking the following
actions.
 Engage in targeted awareness campaigns to effect changes in attitudes.
 Advocate so that gender equality remains political agenda
 Advocate for women’s quotas and affirmative action to promote the
participation of women in political and public life.
 Provide appropriate training on women’s rights and gender equality &
Provide members of the judiciary, prosecutors, police officers and
other law enforcement officials with adequate training on women’s
rights
Cont….
2. For The Government-
 Ought to Promote the Rights: – Education,
Economic Participation and Opportunity,
Representation – Power and Decision Making .
9. Conclusion
• Ethiopia’s policy and programmatic measures in the areas of
gender-mainstreaming and women’s empowerment have started to
yield positive results. The gender disparities at all levels of
education have narrowed down significantly and more so in
primary education over the last decade. In addition, the
proportions of women in formal employment and the number of
seats held by women in parliament have increased..

Based on the lesson learned, the following

conclusions have been drawn:-
• This shows that there were no adequate measures taken for
women’s empowerment in leadership positions rate due to lack of
strong commitment and attentions of politicians and governor’s
officials.
• The main criteria used for woman’s selection and placement into
decision-making structures leadership position performance
appraisal, work experience
 Cont……
 It was also indicated that women have been given priority when they
had the same qualification and work experiences as their male
counterparts.
 Based on the Discussion sex and leadership role have been cracked
or perforated the agreement of women’s are naturally lack self-
confidence to practice leadership positions and acceptable than men
leaders by their followers