Ethiopia, UN Women seek to enhance gender financing and empower women

Addis Ababa, October 30, 2024 (FBC) – Ms. Semereta Sewasew, State Minister of Finance, met with Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, to discuss Ethiopia’s ongoing efforts in gender financing, gender equality, and women’s empowerment earlier today.

During the visit, Semereta reaffirmed Ethiopia’s dedication to promoting women’s leadership across sectors, fostering inclusive growth, and ensuring diverse perspectives in decision-making at all levels.

The State Minister expressed gratitude to UN Women for their significant role in advancing gender tracking, promoting women’s financial empowerment, and enhancing access to finance and financial inclusion for women. These efforts have helped address gender disparities in the financial sector, paving the way for a more inclusive economy.

“UN Women’s leadership in supporting gender budgeting and strengthening women’s access to finance has been instrumental in creating more equitable opportunities for all Ethiopians,” Semereta noted.

The discussion highlighted Ethiopia’s progress in gender-responsive budgeting (GRB), notably through the endorsement of the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) and the development of a toolkit. Ms. Gumbonzvanda commended these steps, recognizing their importance in promoting gender-responsive policies.

She noted, “Ethiopia has taken bold and commendable steps in advancing gender equality through its gender budgeting initiatives, which can serve as a model for other countries in the region. UN Women remains committed to supporting Ethiopia’s journey towards inclusive growth and sustainable development.”

Ms. Cecile Mukarubuga, UN Women’s Country Representative, also reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to supporting GBS implementation at national and sub-national levels, stressing the importance of tailored support to maximize impact.

The State Minister emphasized the importance of building capacity at the federal and regional levels to strengthen the effectiveness of gender financing initiatives. “Expanding capacity across all levels is crucial to ensure the success of these programs and foster sustainable, inclusive growth across Ethiopia,” she said.

Semereta expressed her anticipation for further collaboration with UN Women to develop robust systems that ensure sustainable gender financing, ultimately empowering women, and driving lasting social and economic progress.