Assessing Gender Mainstreaming to Ensure Gender Equity and Equality in Education, Social and Economic Sectors : The Case of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

The purpose of this study was to assess the implementation of gender mainstreaming as a fundamental strategy in insuring gender equity and equality in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. To conduct the study, six regional bureaus and seven corresponding worreda offices were selected by standing committee members of the Council of Amhara Region. Data was collected from Heads or Vice Heads of the Regional Bureaus and Worreda Offices and Gender focal persons and twenty employees from each Regional and Worreda Offices. Various data collection instruments, such as, questionnaire, interview, FGD and document analysis were employed. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques were used. The results of the analysis revealed that though there are adequate legal frameworks to implement gender mainstreaming in the education, other social and economic sectors in Amhara Region, when the achievements are measured in terms of gender mainstreaming dimensions, they fell short of the standards in all criteria set for gender mainstreaming. Based on the findings recommendations are forwarded. That is, the implementation is entangled with inadequacy of gender mainstreaming specific policies, adequate budget, networking, gender responsive human resource planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation systems, etc.