UN Women together with the Government through the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MoWSA) have significant advancements towards new policy developments and /or revision of the existing ones to match with the developments in the country.

Drawing from experiences in other countries, this document describes the main steps of the process, the possible challenges and the keys to success in developing a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in Ethiopia.

This policy brief highlights the main findings of four academic research papers on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda that were presented during a workshop organized by UN Women Ethiopia Country Office in December 2021. The findings focus on protection of women from conflict-related sexual violence; gender-sensitive recovery programs; role of women human rights defenderds in supporting the WPS agenda; and awareness of Members of Parliament on the agenda.

There is a tendency to view the sheer volume of land certificates issued in Ethiopia in recent years as a proxy for improvements in women’s land tenure security. While getting land registered in women’s names is a significant step, evidence indicates that focusing on titling alone may not necessarily lead to greater tenure security for women. Control and transfer rights of land for women are affected by broader gendered norms and practices. It is high time to think more deeply around the post-certification agenda so that women can derive the full range of benefits from their land resources.

UNWomen, in collaboration with International Medical Corps (IMC), has been implementing a Programme on Women’s Empowerment in Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) Rights (POWER) in humanitarian settings in Gambella Region. The purpose of the action research is to document the progress on the SRMNCAH programme implemented in the humanitarian setting, lessons learned from it, gaps in it and efforts required for it. The findings will better inform UN Women and partners working in a humanitarian setting on the current progress and the efforts required to improve SRMNCAH services in the refugee and host communities.

The study's overarching aim is to provide reliable estimates of the economic costs of IPV in Ethiopia. The research underscores the high costs of IPV for women, households, the government, and the broader society of Ethiopia. By examining the impact on both the individual and society, the study highlights the tangible and intangible costs associated with VAWG more broadly, which can greatly help to inform policy and economic priorities.

The study covers Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. It finds that NEET rates in ESA are above 40 percent for youth in the 20-24 years age bracket, that young women in the region are disproportionally affected by NEET status regardless of their age group, and that this status is more likely to become a permanent state for young women than for young men.

The study covers Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. It finds that NEET rates in ESA are above 40 percent for youth in the 20-24 years age bracket, that young women in the region are disproportionally affected by NEET status regardless of their age group, and that this status is more likely to become a permanent state for young women than for young men.

The current drought response in Ethiopia is being scaled up across sectors, including food security, nutrition assistance, provision of safe water and sanitation, and livelihood protection. In addition, other urgent humanitarian assistance to drought- stricken areas such as agriculture and livestock support for pastoralist communities are also being increased. Nonetheless, the needs of women and girls may not be met due to a number of compounding factors such as the breakdown of key services which are critical to the health, protection, and recovery of women and girls; weakened informal and formal protection and accountability mechanisms; disrupted livelihoods, increased displacement, power imbalances, and limited access to resources.

The assessment offers a series of measures for re forming Ethiopian law to ensure that laws are gender sensitive and more effective at ensuring gender equal ity and non-discrimination. Most notable is that a total of 5 laws or provisions must be repealed in whole or in part; 26 laws must be revised or amended and two (2) new laws must be enacted to bring Ethiopia’s legislative framework in line with its regional and international obligations on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The report also emphasizes the need to prioritize the implementation of national laws that comply with gender equality standards, and in this context, recommends one policy measure to ensure that laws fully deliver on women’s rights

This study builds on UN Women’s achievements and experience in supporting women and girls during the COVID pandemic within the East and Southern Africa Region and other parts of the world.

UN Women amplified women’s role in the COVID-19 response highlighting the significant leadership roles women played in leading the response efforts in materials on COVID-19 prevention disseminated in local languages and hand washing facilities were constructed in 6 elementary schools. 528 returnee migrant women workers from the Middle East and domestic workers across Addis Ababa have been provided with basic sanitation and hygiene training and raising awareness on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women, girls, and vulnerable and marginalized groups.

This analytical study covered ten countries in the region and looked at issues of access to justice for women and girls in East and Southern Africa.

The review indicated that Ethiopia has not only ratified many of the conventions and treaties related to refugees and asylum seekers, but also formalized these laws into its Constitution and in the national Refugee Proclamation. However, a closer analysis of the health sector focusing on sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (SRMNCAH) services to women and girls in the humanitarian settings, the laws, policies, strategies, guidelines, programs, and plans of the sector indicated a clear gap.

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Ethiopia was reported in March 2020, and the prime minister declared a state of emergency in April 2020. This resulted in the prohibition of interregional public transport and public gatherings, school closures across the country and the introduction of other public health measures to reduce the person-to-person transmission of the virus.

Gender inequality and the failure to recognize and defend women’s human rights are realities of the daily lives of women. In many circumstances, women and girls face the most oppressive: gender inequality and unequal power relations at household and intimate relationship levels. The socio-cultural and economic factors driving the HIV epidemic have gender dimensions that are also built in the same power relations which segregate the differences in the roles and responsibilities of men/women and boys/girls.

This gender assessment was conducted to analyze the national HIV epidemic and its contexts and evaluate the degree to which the country’s response to HIV recognizes gender and its associated inequalities as key determinants of the epidemic.

The brief highlights the purpose of exchange visits, the best practices identified participants, and the key messages of the forum for Civil Society.The main aim of the visits was to get exposure to and gain a better understanding of, countries’ experiences on climate-smart agriculture (CSA) and agribusiness practices so as to synergize with national-level lessons for action.

Women’s leadership and increased participation in decision-making will be a cornerstone to sustain democratic values and enhance crisis management. Bold and ambitious change is needed. The pandemic must not in any way hinder the bold action needed for addressing gender equality and action is needed right now. The pandemic should not be a deterrent for equality and for all types of women’s participation.

This continental study provides a contextual analysis of the forced displacement of women and girls in Africa based on first hand data from field visits made to the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. The analysis provides the key priority considerations for the realisation of durable solutions for refugees, IDPs and returnees in Africa and makes recommendations for actions by the AU, Member States and relevant stakeholders within the context of AGA and APSA.