Women Coffee Climate: OSSREA Hosts Successful Feedback Workshop on Gender Equality Strategy Implementation Guideline

The workshop aimed to gather valuable feedback from key stakeholders on the GES Implementation Guideline, which is designed to promote gender equality and empower women across Ethiopia’s coffee, tea, and spices sectors. The event provided a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions, share experiences, and identify actionable recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of the strategy.

Key Highlights of the Workshop:

• Opening Remarks: The workshop commenced with opening remarks from Mr. Safissa Ababu, who emphasized the critical importance of gender equality in the agricultural sector and the role of the GES Implementation Guideline in achieving this goal.
• Group Discussions: Participants were divided into four groups, each focusing on specific topics such as policy alignment, business cases for gender equality, advocacy and awareness, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The group discussions allowed for in-depth exploration of challenges and opportunities, fostering a collaborative approach to strategy implementation.
• Plenary Session: Following the group discussions, a plenary session was held where each group presented their key findings and recommendations. The presentations highlighted the need for stronger policy enforcement, increased access to finance for women, and the importance of ongoing knowledge sharing and capacity building.
• Actionable Recommendations: The workshop concluded with several actionable steps to be taken forward. These include enhancing the monitoring and evaluation framework, integrating gender-sensitive indicators into project designs, and strengthening partnerships between government, private sector, and civil society organizations.

Speaking at the closing of the event, Ms. Aurora Martin, project manager of the Women, Coffee and Climate DESIRA project, said that “This workshop marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to advance gender equality within the coffee sector. The feedback and insights shared today will be instrumental in refining our approach and ensuring that the GES Implementation Guideline effectively meets its objectives.”

The workshop underscored the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in achieving gender equality and set the stage for ongoing engagement and partnership among the various actors involved.