Presidential Leadership Program Alumni Reunion

As part of its wider empowering women in leadership program, UN Women in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MoWSA) and the Office of the President of Ethiopia has launched the Presidential Leadership Program for Women Leaders; a flagship initiative by H.E. President Sahle-Work Zewde in February 2022. Through the seven round leadership capacity building sessions, the program reached over 300 women leaders from across different parts of the country including regions where women’s representation in leadership is visibly low like Gambella, Benshangul-Gumuz, Afar and Somali. Notably, more than 130 trainees are parliamentarians from the House of Peoples Representatives.

From 23-24 March 2024, UN Women Ethiopia in collaboration with MoWSA and the Office of the President organized the Presidential Leadership Program Alumni Reunion. The event aimed to create a network of influential women leaders with a strong voice and knowledge to challenge the status quo through networking, cross learning and knowledge-sharing. It also celebrated the achievements of women leaders who participated in the seven-round presidential leadership trainings. This reunion represents a powerful step toward fostering a supportive community of women leaders in Ethiopia.

The event brought together H.E. President Sahle-Work Zewde, H.E. Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, Minister Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Mrs. Cecile Mukarubuga, UN Women Ethiopia Country Representative, seasoned women leaders and ambassadors invited from abroad and in Ethiopia both virtually and in person, and more than 300 women leaders and parliamentarians that are alumni of the 7 cohort of the Presidential Leadership Program.

Delivering a keynote speech, H.E. President Sahle-Work acknowledged UN Women Ethiopia’s role in the implementation of the initiative as well as the seamless collaboration between UN Women, MoWSA and Office of the President that evidenced the power of coordination and collaboration “Let’s stand together and empower each other to see a resilient and peaceful Ethiopia.” She also noted that supporting women has been her mission throughout her career and has witnessed how women have been absent from leadership in various sectors. Based on her extensive leadership experience, she has observed a disturbing pattern where women are often overlooked for leadership positions. Even when they manage to attain such roles through sheer determination, they face constant scrutiny, with every mistake closely monitored and remembered with ease.

The aim of the Presidential Leadership Program is to expand the pool of gender transformative and efficient women leaders that are networked among themselves and can create opportunity for other women to climb the leadership ladder. She emphasized on how the door that is now opened should not be closed.

Following the keynote speech, a video message from H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia, H.E. Joyce Banda, Former President of Malawi (TBC), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade and Ambassador Konjit Sine-Girogis was shared with the alumni and honorable guests. H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia, said, "My congratulations go to President Sahle Work Zewdie, an international, inclusive and impactful leader with a clear vision of the critical place of women in the peace, progress and prosperity of Ethiopia. This leadership training initiative is only one example."

The Women Parliamentary Caucus representative expressed gratitude to the President’s initiative and emphasized the importance of empowering women in decision-making. H.E Dr. Ergogie Tesfaye, Minister of Women and Social Affairs, highlighted the need for continued efforts to address women’s rights and leadership challenges in support of the women leaders empowerment program.

During the first day of the event, various presentations were made covering the following topics: Context Assessment on Women, Peace, and Security; Good Practices, Lessons, Opportunities, and Challenges in the Care Economy in Ethiopia; Implementation of Affirmative Action Measures in Ethiopia; Ethiopia Country Gender Profile and Economic Cost of Intimate Partner Violence. Additionally, plenary discussions and Q&A sessions were held in response to the presented studies.

The networking and reflection sessions provided opportunities for sharing experiences and inspiring stories among the trainees. In the networking session, participants enthusiastically congratulated each other on their personal and professional accomplishments. Military women highlighted their roles in peacekeeping, celebrated Ethiopian identity, and emphasized their roles as women. Gratitude was expressed to mothers and women leaders that served as role models. Overall, the event fostered connections and underscored women's commonalities and leadership potential.

To ensure the sustainability of the initiative, a committee was set up to establish the Presidential Leadership Program Women Association. Comprising nine representatives from each cohort, the association aims to ignite the power within women, inspiring them to reach a limitless future through inclusive leadership and meaningful engagement. It is dedicated to advancing social, economic, political, and educational opportunities for women and girls in Ethiopia, with a specific emphasis on cultivating the next generation of women leaders.

The ‘Presidential Leadership Program for Women Leaders’ project implemented by UN Women Ethiopia in partnership of the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs (MoWSA) and the Office of the President of Ethiopia, is generously funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Center for International Reproductive Health Training (CIRHT). The project has reached over 300 women leaders that are in middle-level leadership positions across Ethiopia and women parliamentarians, with the aim of promoting women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic, and public life.