Women’s Voice and Leadership - Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Ethiopia

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic this project supports women's organizations (WOs) to combat the harmful effects of this crisis on gender equality gains and the rights of women and girls in Ethiopia including sexual and gender-based violence. As part of its response plan the project will provide 20 WOs with the financial support required to provide COVID-19 response activities. This project is part of Canada's Women's Voice and Leadership Program which supports local and regional women's organizations and networks to advance women's empowerment and gender equality in developing countries. This is done by supporting their activities building institutional capacity and promoting network and alliance-building as women's and feminist organizations are critical agents of change. The program also responds to the globally recognized significant gap in funding and support to women's organizations and movements worldwide. The project aims to reach up to 113 local regional and national WOs across four Ethiopia regions (Addis Ababa Amhara Oromia and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples' Region - SNNPR). The project also provides training and support to over 70 young feminists and 24 core trainers and coaches.

The expected outcomes for this project includes: (1) improved management and sustainability of women’s organizations advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Ethiopia particularly those representing vulnerable and marginalized women and girls; (2) enhanced performance of women’s organizations’ programming and advocacy to advance gender equality and empower women and girls in Ethiopia; and (3) increased effectiveness of sub-national and national women’s platforms networks and alliances to affect policy legal and social change in Ethiopia that advances gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.