Training in Addis Ababa – October 23 - 27, 2017
Addressing Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Agricultural Colleges in Ethiopia
October 25, 2017
We have just concluded another (#4 in Ethiopia) incredibly successful Gender Training for the ATTSVE project, this time in Addis Ababa. Once again, the gender focal persons from Nedjo, Maichew, Woreta and Wolaito Soddo ATVETs gathered together to engage in ways to address gender mainstreaming within the colleges. We were fortunate to have been joined by several instructors and department heads from each of the colleges as well as representatives from Kombolcha ATVET. One of the objectives of this training was a continuation of the excellent work that has been happening in the ATVET colleges in years one, two and three of the ATTSVE project to create awareness of gender equity as well as address gender based violence (GBV).
On day one, we introduced final draft of the manual Gender Matters: Gender Concerns in the Ethiopian Occupational Standards and Guidelines for Gender Responsive Teaching, Training and Learning Materials (TTLM). The manual contains five parts that address (1) gender mainstreaming, (2) gender and occupation standards, (3) gender responsive teaching, (4) integrating HIV/AIDS in teaching, training and learning materials, and (5) instructor produced materials. Each of the ATVET Gender Focal Persons will be presenting the manual to their colleagues in further training as well as cascading the information in their respective ATVETs.
On day three, we presented the preliminary analysis of the Survey/Assessment on Gender Based Violence in Four ATVET Colleges: Woreta, Nedjo, Wolaita Sodo & Maichew. Participants engaged in a participatory analysis of initial findings to gain a picture of students’ experiences of gender based violence on their respective campuses and to provide input and validation of the findings. From that participatory analysis, each ATVET reviewed the college specific recommendations and included additional ones. The final report of the survey will be presented at the ATTSVE All-Partners meeting and delivered to each of the colleges in January 2018.
On day four, Dr. Asnakech Demissie from Jimma University led the group in a workshop on grant writing to provide participants with the skills to obtain further funding to support their work on gender mainstreaming.
A highlight of the session were the mock media interviews done by the participants. The goals of the mock interviews were to raise awareness of GBV in the ATVET sector by providing focused sound bites that could be accessed by the public and to help participants practice articulating the importance of addressing GBV. In inter-college groups, participants were tasked with interviewing each other about GVB in the ATVET sector. Each interviewer asked three questions: What are you learning about GBV on your campus? What do you think needs to be done to address GBV on your campus? and Why is this work important now? Those being interviewed were given three minutes to respond. The mock interviews were conducted in English, Amharric and Oromiffa. The edited videos of the interviews will be available on the GLCoP website soon.
Community networking was the second highlight of this training session. Up to this point in the project, our focus has been on how to effectively implement gender mainstreaming in the individual colleges. As we approach the latter years of the project, our focus is shifting towards further outreach that will potentially support the colleges in the future. We were joined by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Federal TVET Agency, the Addis Ababa TVET Agency, Ipas Ethiopia, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) Ethiopia.
On day two of the training, we were privileged to have had three excellent presentations. Bethlehem Kebede from UNFPA shared an engaging presentation on GBV Prevention and Management in Ethiopia.Fekadu Jaleta from DSW shared a presentation on the Youth to Youth: Youth Initiative, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW)’s Experience on Youth Based Sexual and Reproductive Health. Belain Rezene from Ipas shared a presentation on the Experience of IPAS Ethiopia Implementing Sexual and Reproductive Health information. The best outcome of these presentations was the potential of greater interest and potential partnerships between them and the ATVET sector. As always, our ATVET participants asked thoughtful and insightful questions offering insights into their respective colleges while suggesting opportunities for how organizations like the UNFPA, DSW and Ipas could support ATVET students.
On day four, Tsehay Demitsu from the Ministry of Agriculture engaged us in a presentation that highlighted the importance of language development in efforts to fully mainstream gender throughout the ATVET sector.
On day five, Alem Egziabhere from the Addis Ababa TVET Agency shared insights into the TVET sectors belief in the importance of gender mainstreaming in the regional ATVETs. Also on day 5, Amsalu Kassa from the Federal TVET Agency gave us an overview of the draft Code of Conduct for Sexual Harassment to be introduced in the TVET sector in the coming months.
Each time we come to Ethiopia, we are reminded of the importance of this work, particularly in addressing GBV at the ATVET colleges. The Gender Focal Persons at each college have made great progress. As always, there is more work to do. We are extremely fortunate to work with such committed individuals who are unquestionably leaders in this work in their individual ATVETs and within Ethiopia.
Lisa & Claudia
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