Author name: NEWA

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ethiopia, with more than 115 million people, was challenged tremendously. Reaching key groups in a country in which 80 percent of the population resides in peri-rural areas was difficult, and worsened by the ongoing conflict concentrated in the north. JSI, through its Last 10 Kilometers (L10K) project and with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, partnered with the Network of Ethiopian Women Association (NEWA) to strengthen risk communication and community engagement to thwart the spread COVID-19. Through a series of consultative sessions with over 850 women and girls in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, and Sidama Regions, it was found that the low vaccine acceptance rate of the was attributable to incorrect information. These included false claims that the vaccine led to infertility, that the vaccination was prohibited by religious beliefs, and that vaccination is the West’s attempt to impose its values on Africa. JSI helped NEWA members work with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) to design social and behavior change communication (SBCC) materials and messages to facilitate COVID-19-prevention behavior among women. JSI supported NEWA on developing and adapting guides and tools and conducting research. NEWA collected data and produced more evidence on COVID-19 prevention measures and the need for medical intervention in response to severe infection. JSI’s technical assistance and NEWA’s research led to a thorough SBCC campaign that included gender-sensitive radio messages, house-to-house visits, and informal community meetings with women. NEWA staff and its partners disseminated SBCC materials throughout key woredas (districts) in the four regions where L10K works. The materials were also distributed to women in isolated rural communities and remote villages through regional health centers with support from the MOH, Ethiopia’s Women’s Development Army (a group of trained volunteer health workers), and certified health extension workers. Ultimately, these combined efforts helped the MOH design actions to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and vaccinate 65 percent of the targeted population.Source: JSI – https://www.jsi.com/stories-of-capacity-development-changing-covid-19-perceptions-ethiopia/?fbclid=IwAR1_pXDIfwg-hWvU9zH-0bMHFH3mdAu27xM0IPToz6SMWz1YOPQmQUzFNhY

Edelawit Alemu, 24, is a passionate young woman currently working in Benshangul-Gumuz region of Metekel Zone, a place known for recurring conflicts. However, working under difficult circumstances is not intimidating for a young woman with vision like Edelawit. Rather, facing challenges and learning in the process is her way of growing professionally and personally. The organization she is working for is Mujejeguwa Loka Women’s Development Association, founded by the late Tirhas Mezgebe, the well-known women rights activist served the community for some 30 years. She is from the small town of Wonji, 103 Kms from the capital Addis Ababa. She studied ‘Early childhood care and education’ and graduated from Woldiya University one and half years ago. She was passionate about serving the society, especially working on issues affecting women and children and she has joined the new department despite the advice that the field of study won’t get her a job as it is new in the job market. Immediately after graduation she joined TARKANFI Sustainable Development Association as project coordinator for the organization’s Sheleads project. The project, implemented by TARKANFI as a subgrantee of Network of Ethiopia Women’s Associations (NEWA) aimed at empowering girls and young women. “Coordinating the activities aimed at helping girls and young women build their capacity around motivation, self-confidence and communication skills also helped me to be a better version of myself” said Edelawit. She also believes her experiences of the Sheleads helped her broaden her scope. Edelawit is member of the Ethiopian Young Women Voice (EYWV), aspiring young girls’ group recently established by NEWA under the Sheleads project. 40 young women from different regions of the country are members of the group. She describes herself as confident, someone who easily communicates her ideas and willing to learn and explore new things. According to Edelawit, as someone who as has been implementing Sheleads and now part of a group under the project, facing challenges, being confident and able to be a voice for the silenced, having the willingness and empathy to understand other women’s situation are the few skills she has acquired through Sheleads among others. She believes empowering young women is very critical to create a society that treats men and women equally. Establishing a foundation that helps children and women is Edelawit’s vision. Edelawit and her likes are the hopes that the country will have many more Tirhases.

H.E the state minister for Planning and Development, Mrs Tirumar Abate,38, is one of the young high government officials. She studied Business Management at undergrad and has an MA in Leadership and Governance. She was among the women leaders who have shared their experience to young women during the establishment of Young Ethiopian Women’s Voice (YEWV) in December 2022. She is also one of the women politicians who participated in the leadership and decision-making pre-election (Ethiopian national election 2021) training delivered by Network of Ethiopian Women’s Associations (NEWA), Timran and UN Women. She was an active participant in events at schools and Universities she has attended, and she recalled that those exposures helped her to be assertive and vocal. The passing away of her mother when she was just young, forced her to take responsibility for a family of five including looking after her younger siblings. This was where she started to learn how to face challenges and use them to her own advantage. She had sat down for the entrance exam for the masters program when it was about six days to her due date. She passed and started class when her baby was two months old, and she graduated with the highest grade. Though it’s challenging, she believes neither passing through pregnancy nor raising a baby should stop women from advancing in their education or career. “Women shouldn’t shy away from taking chances to grab leadership roles at any stage” is her advice for young women. She was a teacher and served at different posts in the lower administrative tiers before joining Enat Party, opposition party. She remembers she used to mentor three students to participate in different activities in their community and grab chances. She has never let any capacity building training or workshops organized by women as she thinks such platforms are critical for women to build their capacity and confidence and to be assertive. She believes it’s the women’s responsibility to grab such opportunities. Having a vision is another important thing as Tirumar explained further. According to her, having a vision gives clarity and helps to keep motivated. She strongly believes platforms like YEWV are important for young women to build their capacity and learn from each other’s experiences. Regarding women’s participation in politics, she said politics is nothing but problem solving. According to her, women shouldn’t shy away from politics, rather they have to participate in any capacity building training, build their capacity and confidence as this helps to face the challenges hindering them from joining politics. Tirumar’s vision is to continue serving her country while aspiring for higher positions.