Female Talent Development Toolbox now online!

The Ethiopia Education Strategy Centre (ESC) and Maastricht School of Management (MSM) have launched an online Female Talent Development Toolbox (www.femaletalent4dev.org) in support of increasing the number and strengthening the position of women in academic and leadership positions at higher education institutions in Ethiopia. A paper version for local distribution will follow.

This toolbox offers sets of practical instruments and references to be used by professionals working on strengthening female talent in higher institutions in Ethiopia. It is expected to be used by female faculty members and leaders of all universities, and by trainers working in female faculty leadership. In addition, MSM and ESC are of the opinion that the toolbox has wider applicability in support of the position of women beyond higher education and beyond Ethiopia. The toolbox has been made possible with financial support of the Netherlands government (EP-Nuffic).

The toolbox is a direct follow of a comprehensive assessment (Eerdewijk et al., 2014) that confirmed that the status of female faculty members is low with very limited number of female faculty members in leadership positions. It showed that female faculty members in Ethiopian universities are facing various challenges emanating from discriminatory attitudes and expectations on female faculty members both in and outside of the university. It further showed a lack of self-confidence and limited willingness of female faculty members to assume higher leadership positions. Harassment and insecurity hampered women’s mobility and their working hours. Female faculty members often have limited participation in non-formal and formal networks and as a result, their opportunity to get information about scholarships and promotions is constrained.

At the toolbox dissemination workshop conducted from 21-23 March 2016 in Addis Ababa, Dr Admasu, Deputy General Director of ESC, emphasized the urgency of ensuring gender equality in all activities of the universities which according to him is long awaited and lagging behind the political will of the Ethiopian government since 1991. He offered the support of ESC in implementing the toolbox. All participants were enthusiastic to engage in implementing the toolbox as a matter of urgency and appreciated the initiative of MSM and ESC. According to many, the toolbox is clearing the fog surrounding how to ensure gender equality in the activities of the universities in general and increasing the participation of female faculty in leadership beyond numbers.