To Empower Ethiopian Women : A Minor Field Study of how the Gender Reforms of the Ethiopian Government impact on Non-Governmental Organisations work with Women Empowerment

Abstract: Ethiopia is a country that for centuries has been dominated by men. However, since 2018, the Prime Minister Abiye Ahmed has introduced gender reforms, including a gender balanced cabinet. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how the gender reforms affect three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in their work to empower women. The paper focuses on the following research questions: 1) How do non-governmental organisations work with women empowerment in Ethiopia? 2) To what extent and how have non-governmental organisations been affected by the gender reforms of the Ethiopian government that took office in 2018? 3) How have Ethiopian women been affected by the gender reforms of the Ethiopian government that took office in 2018 according to non-governmental organisations? The paper follows the theoretical framework by Dibie and Dibie, and Bratton as analytical framework. The methodological framework that has been used is a qualitative method, conducting semi- structured interviews. The NGOs main approach in relation to women empowerment is Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Women Watch Groups. The NGOs are unanimous that the gender reforms have improved NGOs relationship with the government due to a new law that was implemented in relation to the reforms. Finally, the NGOs have a positive image of Ethiopian women’s future and argues that the gender reforms empower women.