By: Yitbarek Tekalign
A high-level validation workshop organized by Gudina Tumsa Foundation (GTF) took place Friday, June 13, 2025 at Elilly International Hotel, bringing together senior government officials, experts, and development partners to examine and affirm the findings of the Organizational Capacity Assessment (OCA) of the Oromia Women and Children Affairs Bureau (OWCAB). The initiative is a component of the Foundation’s Health and Livelihood Improvement Advocacy Project in Oromia (HaLIAPO), backed by Gates Foundation.
In his opening address, Mr. Iyobed Yonas, Program Director of GTF, underscored the Foundation’s 33-year journey in transforming communities through integrated development programs in education, livelihood Development, healthcare, WASH, and evidence-based policy advocacy. He emphasized that GTF’s commitment to inclusive development continues to be anchored in the belief that no development can be sustainable without the full economic participation of women.
Mr. Iyobed stated that the purpose of the OCA is to assess the institutional performance of OWCAB and identify practical solutions that enable the Bureau to turn policies into action. “This study reflects our determination to strengthen the capacity of institutions to serve women better,” he said. “It is not enough to have good plans; we must ensure institutions are equipped to implement them.”
Ms. Gelane Gurre, Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Advisor to the Oromia President under GTF’s HaLIAPO project, lauded the assessment for its relevance and called for coordinated action among stakeholders. “We have the evidence and now we need shared responsibility. Women’s economic empowerment requires the full collaboration of every sector. When women rise, society rises,” she said.
Presenting the detailed findings of the assessment, Mr. Firomsa Taye, General Manager of FTS Management and Strategy Consulting, highlighted persistent gaps in leadership, staffing, coordination, gender data systems, and policy appraisal frameworks across key institutions. The study also revealed systemic weaknesses in monitoring and evaluation practices, insufficient financial allocations for gender-related programming, and lack of specialized technical expertise in gender mainstreaming.
Mr. Teshome Bula, HaLIAPO Project Manager at GTF, stressed that the workshop was not merely an academic exercise but a platform for real change. “This is about designing a concrete roadmap to close the gaps. Through this project, capacity development is not just recommended; it is being planned and will be delivered. The validation workshop is a stepping stone to building stronger, more accountable institutions,” he said.
The workshop provided space for rich deliberations and group discussions on how to move forward. Participants, including officials, directors and technical experts, overwhelmingly agreed that high-level political will and well-coordinated action are essential to achieving meaningful change. The event concluded by establishing a joint task force to oversee the implementation of the recommendations and further refine institutional strategies for WEE.
Participants praised the Foundation’s long-standing role in advancing gender equity, with many urgings that the findings be brought to the attention of higher regional leadership. There was clear consensus that institutional change is both possible and essential for women in Oromia to achieve their full economic potential.
