Gender Mainstreaming Aspects in the Women’s Affairs and Economic and Business Affairs General Directorates of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Addis Ababa
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Date
2009-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study is designed to explore the status of gender mainstreaming aspects in two general directorates of
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA): Women’s Affairs General Directorates (WAGD) and Economic Business
Affairs General Directorates (EBAGD). Particularly, the study targeted on three departments of WAGD and
two departments of EBAGD: The departments of WAGD are Resource Mobilization, Plan Research and
Capacity Building Department (RMRPCBD), Policy and Affirmative Action Affairs Department (PAAAD),
and Women’s and Children’s Trafficking Department. The departments of EBAGD are Foreign Trade,
Investments and Tourism Development (FTITDD) and Mobilization of Resources for Development and
Technical Cooperation Research and plan Department (MRDTCRPD). The study used qualitative approach
where it applied in-depth interview, focus group discussion, and personal observation of the researcher to
collect the needed information. Furthermore, document analysis was used as part of the study, to find out
gender dimensions and gaps in MOFA. Based on the data analysis, the study findings revealed the
following results.
With regard to policy and affirmative action, the results indicated that at present there is no gender policy,
strategy, or guideline that guides to mainstream gender in MOFA. However, at the moment, WAGD of
MOFA is responsible to formulate and it is on the process of developing gender policy or guideline. In the
foreign policy and strategy document, gender aspects are not integrated. Hence, it is not gender sensitive.
On the other hand, MOFA’s commitment is reflected in that it has developed gender affirmative
implementation guide line concerned with women employees but not for women external customers. In spite
of the formulation of affirmative guideline, the findings showed that little was done to increase the number
of women employees in MOFA. The result also indicated MOFA allocates budgets to WAGD for gender
mainstreaming purposes at the organizational level. With regard to protecting women from trafficking, the
result showed the management of MOFA has established a department called “Women’s and Children’s
Trafficking Department“ with specific duties and responsibilities. Based on this, the department has started
performing related activities. With respect to gender roles, the result reflected that higher managerial
positions are held by men. As the data shows, the first four higher position in the head office and the
embassies are occupied by women. Whereas the lower position such as secretary and cleaner are
occupied by women. So in general, gender roles are stereotyped.
Although there are some measures taken to translate the affirmative action given in the Ethiopian
constitution and gender mainstreaming conventions to promote women in foreign trade investment and
tourism, the affirmative action opportunities are not fully translated into action, according to the study.
Furthermore, in the foreign resource mobilization (foreign loans, aids or technical support), no percentage is
assigned for women’s work at the sectoral (national) level.
Therefore, the conclusion is that on one side there are considered commitments of gender concerns by the management of MOFA which is mainly expressed by the establishment of WAGD. On the other side, there are gender gaps noticed in gender mainstreaming aspects of MOFA. Hence, in the items were gender gap is observed, it is recommended that the gender gap be filled by undertaking gender mainstreaming process in MOFA as a whole
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Keywords
Gender Studies