In spite of the relentless effort of the Ethiopian government and the legal surety, the constitution which guarantees women’s rights, they have been facing significant challenges in achieving gender equality, which can potentially pave ways for real social, economic and even political changes.
Cognizant of the fact that there are a range of undertakings towards promoting gender equality, The Ethiopian Herald had a stay with Solomon Eyayu, a gender studies graduate from Addis Ababa University, to have a piece of professional opinion in this regard.
He said, “While the Ethiopian government has made strides in promoting gender equality, disparities have persisted in education, economic participation, and political representation, among others, since long back. Gender equality is fundamental to sustainable and people-centered development and is essential for achieving progress and ensuring a fair and prosperous society. It need to be ensured following the pooled effort of all.”
As to Solomon, people create blockades that impede societal advancement and overlook the immense potential of half the world’s population regarding skills, talent and innovative thinking by excluding women from equal participation in all areas of life. This trend has to be reined somewhere, of course.
He further underlined that empowering women is crucial for attaining sustainable development, as it entails granting them more power to influence consumption and production patterns, make decisions and exercise control over the distribution of resources within and between generations.
Recognizing the significance of gender equality and women’s empowerment, the government greatly emphasizes eliminating all forms of inequality and promoting inclusive growth. Yes, the Ethiopian government has made gender equality a top priority on its development agenda for the past few decades.
Undeniably, he added Ethiopia has made significant strides in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment across various fronts. Since women and children are often overrepresented among the vulnerable segments of the Ethiopian population, they have to be given due emphasis to make a difference at national level.
Interestingly, he said with the approval of the Sustainable Development Agenda in 2015, the Government of Ethiopia has stepped up efforts to fulfill Sustainable Development Goal 5, aiming at achieving greater gender equality and empowerment for all women and girls in the country.
He further elucidated that fundamentally no single transformation is enough to essentially change gender roles and relations. Hence, coordinated action across the nation and sectors can empower Ethiopian women as agents of national growth and stabilization.
Likewise, transforming social norms to accept women as leaders and economic actors enables more women to take on decision-making roles and generate income. And when more women become leaders and breadwinners, it steadily chips away at restrictive social expectations, he added.
According to Solomon, lucrative enterprises led by women entrepreneurs may be less sustainable if they lack decision-making power at home and in their communities. In this way, sustainable progress requires coordinated efforts spanning economic empowerment, leadership, and social transformation, on which the nation has focused and requires seriously.
He said, “The very important point that needs to be taken into account is changing the overwhelming aspect of women is changing the nation. Hence, every sector, every undertaking has to be called on to join the dramatic and game-changing initiatives the country has embarked on to grow together and bring about change. Yes, it is in this way we all can empower women to have concrete deeds, which would be part and parcel of the shared goals for gender equality and women’s empowerment at national, level.”
Another scholar to whom the newspaper approached was Senait Banteyirga, graduated from Civil Service University working on gender issues. She said Ethiopia has continued to demonstrate commitment to advancing gender equality and women empowerment policies, plans, and programs. Legal and policy frameworks have been put in place to prioritize actions to promote gender equality and mobilize collective action.
“Despite efforts, gender inequality remains a structural challenge in Ethiopia, determining the country’s development and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Women in Ethiopia still face headwinds to economic opportunities, political participation, and resilience to crises and disasters. Such a daunting challenge must be well addressed,” she underscored.
As to her, as fragmentary gender equality projects have not been enough to drive systemic change, the combined effort of all has to be well amalgamated and concerned bodies should walk the talk.
This means she said coordinating multiple interconnected interventions across organizations, be they are federal or states, private or public, to tackle the root causes of gender inequality at a systems level and continually evolving them to pursue gender equally and empowerment of women.
Instead of narrow and scattered initiatives, a well-coordinated approach should be well in place and a assortment tactic shall be framed as it would help design transformations and pathways with multiple options that build the capacity of many stakeholders towards a shared vision of change. The focus is on reaching deep into communities to transform structures that disempower women, reinforce women’s agency, and improve gender relations.
Since social norms and inadequate political representation also impede women’s advancement, they have to be reframed in tune with the needs of the contemporary world and the intention and capacity of women to discharge responsibilities accordingly, she added.
Yes, she said a series of both formal and informal entrenched power structures that result in compounding inequalities of voice and agencies have to be well shaped.
While many organizations are working to advance gender equality in Ethiopia, progress made in achieving transformational results has been slow, and this aspect has to be scrupulously observed and it is important to devise possible solutions to the problems accordingly.
She said, “For example, projects may provide business skills training for women entrepreneurs, but not facilitate their access to credit, empower women to make decisions over income, or shift social attitudes about women in business. Women tend to be engaged as recipients of aid rather than agents of change. Serving women’s needs is crucial but not enough. Lasting and meaningful transformation requires putting women in decision-making roles to steer community-driven solutions, indeed!”
Hence, she said a new approach is needed that goes beyond temporary benefits and empowers women to transform the very systems that have long disempowered them. No doubt, creating systemic change in gender equality requires coordinated action across three crucial areas.
As economic opportunities, which provide women with inclusive, resilient income sources so as to help them achieve financial independence and enable to steer policies, budgets, and solutions, all doors need to be open for them if the nation wants to make real difference in all aspects, she underlined.
In sum, together, these transformations reinforce each other to drive gender equality from multiple angles and build lasting, systemic change. As it is well recognized that women are faced with a number of challenges, including lack of access to finance, support networks, training opportunities, and the need to balance work and home responsibility, and they need to be soothed to help these segments of the society contribute their immense share to the national social, economic and even political contribution. For instance, pathways to expand economic opportunities include improving digital market access, facilitating access to finance, and helping women develop resilient agriculture businesses. Decision-making pathways focus on leadership training and strengthening policy frameworks, among others, need to be well facilitated to reach out to the unreached even and well empowered the existing active ones. Unequivocally, the boulevard ahead in the nation requires commitment, collaboration, wise use of resources, capitalizing on women. In so doing the desired change can be brought about.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 29 MAY 2025
