The Natural Resources Stewardship Programme II is a regional project which facilitates Stewardship Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (SMSPs) as an instrument for consensus-building processes in areas facing significant resource use pressure (e.g. economic zones).

Women’s Role in Resource-Intensive Sectors in Ethiopia  

In Ethiopia, women make up much of the workforce in resource-intensive sectors like textiles, waste management, and agriculture. However, they have historically been excluded from decision-making processes. The NatuReS program prioritizes women as a key focus group, aiming to strengthen partnership members’ understanding of their roles, rights, and needs—along with those of other marginalized groups—within Just Transition processes towards a more socially just and environmentally sustainable economy.

The Protecting Lake Hawassa (PLH) Partnership

Through the Protecting Lake Hawassa (PLH) Partnership, NatuReS endeavors to address the pressing challenges posed by factors such as land degradation and insufficient waste management, while promoting sustainable practices that safeguard environmental integrity and social well-being. Central to this endeavor is the recognition of gender equality and social inclusion as foundational principles for achieving meaningful and lasting impacts.  

Challenges Faced by Women and Marginalized Groups

In the Protecting Lake Hawassa Partnership, as in many similar initiatives across the country, women and marginalized groups continue to face systemic obstacles in fully participating in decision-making processes and benefiting from development interventions. These challenges undermine the effectiveness and sustainability of efforts for a transition to a climate-friendly economy. Existing legal frameworks and institutional mechanisms aimed at promoting gender equality in Ethiopia provide a foundation for addressing these disparities. However, gaps remain in translating these policies into tangible outcomes on the ground.   

Bridging the Gap: Training for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

Therefore, NatuReS partnered with the local NGO Tamra for Social Development to develop and implement a targeted training program that equips stakeholders and partners of the PLH partnership with the necessary knowledge and skills to integrate gender equality and social inclusion principles effectively into their institutions and activities within the partnership.

The training content was developed based on an initial capacity gaps assessment among stakeholders of the Protecting Lake Hawassa Partnership, regarding the roles, rights, and needs of women and marginalized groups in decision-making processes.

Training Objectives and Key Focus Areas

In December 2024, the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) training sessions were conducted in Hawassa, organized in two rounds. 34 participants from PLH partnership member organizations from public, private, and civil society institutions participated in the trainings. Each round had 17 participants, with a balanced representation of men and women (7 female and 10 male; 8 female and 9 male).

The primary goal of the GESI training was to foster gender equality and social inclusion within the participants’ organizations. The trainings aimed to:

• Provide a deep understanding of gender concepts relevant to sustainable natural resources management.
• Analyze the roles, rights, and needs of women and marginalized groups in Just Transition processes.
• Equip participants with skills to devise action plans and strategies for mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion.
• Teach stakeholder mapping and SWOT analysis for internal and external assessments.
• Develop individual action plans for GESI-related activities.

Training Methodology and Engagement

The sessions covered essential topics on:

• Basic Gender Concepts and Gender Analysis
• Rights-Based Development Approach (RBDA)
• Stakeholder Analysis and Diversity Inclusion Processes
• Setting GESI indicators for Monitoring and Evaluation
• Community Resources Mapping and Action Plan Preparation

Training techniques included role play, group exercises, debates, and visual aids. The training environment was designed to foster collaboration and practical application of the concepts learned. Participants engaged in group discussions, provided feedback, and shared their experiences, which enriched the learning process.

Evaluating the Impact of GESI Training

The training sessions were evaluated through pre- and post-training tests, as well as participant feedback. The evaluations indicated a significant improvement in participants’ understanding of GESI concepts. Participants appreciated the interactive nature of the training and its practical relevance to their work. They expressed that the training empowered them and provided clear guidance on applying the skills learned.

“The training approach is unique and full of interactive exercises, energizer and role plays etc. The content is very important. We had a lot of information within three days which is useful for us to know more about GESI and the challenges facing the Hawassa Lake in general” (training participant).

Expanding GESI Training to Dembel-Shalla Sub-Basin

As a next step, in the second half of March 2025, an additional 40 people from stakeholder institutions of the Dembel-Shalla Sub-Basin Multi-Stakeholder Platform will receive this training. NatuReS is supporting the facilitation of this platform, and building on the experiences gained in Hawassa, will continue to foster awareness and co-develop actionable work plans to address the roles, rights, and needs of women and marginalized groups in collective action for environmental stewardship in Ethiopia.