WOMEN LEADERS TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES IN ETHIOPIA
Women as Beacons of Change
The Skybird II microprojects in Ethiopia are more than service delivery - they are lighthouses of women-led innovation. By empowering women to lead, these initiatives in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), emergency medical services (EMS), and livelihoods are lighting the path toward inclusive, resilient, and equitable communities across Ethiopia. Women are not only participating - they are leading.
From Insight to Impact: Women Shaping the Agenda
The foundation of these microprojects was built on participatory assessments, including a Gender Livelihood and Market Assessment and a gender analysis on women’s leadership. These studies identified barriers and opportunities for women in entrepreneurship, health, and climate-smart livelihoods. The findings directly shaped sub-grant guidelines, ensuring every microproject:
- Responds to the needs of women and girls
- Promotes socio-economic empowerment
- Prioritizes training, awareness, and behavior change
- Encourages community-led innovation
- Aligns with gender-transformative goals
Crucially, these projects are implemented in the same communities where the women’s leadership approach is being rolled out - creating powerful synergies and reinforcing local ownership.
Participatory Planning: Women at the Table
In May 2025, a four-day workshop in Hawassa brought together 33 participants from Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) branches, headquarters, Austrian Red Cross (AutRC), academia, and local government. Women played key roles in identifying community challenges and designing solutions. The workshop fostered collaboration, proposal-writing skills, and cross-sector partnerships.
In June, proposals were refined in Addis Ababa with feedback from the AutRC Skybird team. Women’s Associations were actively involved, ensuring that the final proposals reflected community priorities and gender equality principles.
Microprojects in Action: Women Driving Change
- WASH: Women Leading Infrastructure and Innovation
Women are taking leadership roles in WASH Committees and technical maintenance of water systems. In Ilubabor, a public latrine system integrates a beauty salon and bio-composting unit - an innovative model of sanitation, dignity, and entrepreneurship led by women. Hygiene campaigns and Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) trainings are spearheaded by women, positioning them as health champions and change agents.
- EMS: Women Protecting and Responding
Female first responders are being trained to strengthen EMS systems and women-lead EMS Committees will be established to take the lead in shaping strategies, coordinating responses, and driving community awareness - setting a new standard for gender-responsive emergency systems. Gender-based violence (GBV) reporting structures and a One-Stop Center are also being established, with women leading awareness campaigns on GBV, female genital mutilation (FGM), and early marriage. These efforts create safer environments and responsive services tailored to women’s needs.
- Livelihoods: Women Building Resilient Futures
Economic empowerment is a cornerstone. Women Self-Help Groups and Village Savings and Loan Associations provide access to capital, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship training. In Ilubabor, women are producing reusable bio-based menstrual hygiene products. In Sidama, they’re manufacturing energy-efficient cookstoves - combining income generation with environmental impact.
Leadership and Inclusion: A Cross-Cutting Vision
Skybird II microprojects are designed to challenge harmful norms and promote inclusive leadership. Women are placed in decision-making roles across all sectors. Men are engaged as allies and “change agents,” while local leaders and teachers receive PGI training to embed inclusive practices. Community dialogues, feedback mechanisms, and awareness campaigns ensure that women are not just beneficiaries - they are architects of transformation.
