Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV)—including online harassment, hate speech, and digital surveillance—is increasingly silencing women’s voices and pushing many out of public discourse. According to UN Women, TFGBV is a growing global threat that disproportionately affects women and girls, especially those already marginalised by ethnicity, religion, or political identity.
In Ethiopia, these risks are compounded by fragile civic space and limited digital protections, making it harder for women to engage in public life online safely. The result is a digital divide not just of access, but of agency.
Launched under UNDP’s FutureSmart Flagship initiative, the Women’s Digital Champions (WDC) Training of Trainers programme is equipping women civil servants with the tools—and the confidence—to lead Ethiopia’s digital transformation.
Making up just 36 % of the country’s 2.5 million civil servants, Ethiopian women are gradually entering new digital spaces.
Dr. Haile is referring to a broader Public Administration and Civil Service Reform effort in Ethiopia, implemented by the Federal Civil Service Commission and seven line ministries which is supported byUNDP through its governance programme and FutureSmart flagship initiative.
In June 2025, 36 women civil servants came together for an intensive three-day in-person workshop. Many arrived with limited digital experience. By the end, they were confidently navigating AI tools, discussing cybersecurity, and designing their own digital training prototypes.
“This training has changed how technology can help enhance the quality of services that we provide”, said Fatuma Seid, Executive Officer at the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia. She also noted that what made this session unique is that the themes are all currently relevant, with practical exercises.
Mesgana Girma, a social inclusion expert at the Ministry of Agriculture, appreciated learning more about cyber security. “I have learned how to protect myself on my computer, phone and other digital services to keep my documents and myself safe.”
The WDC initiative doesn’t end with one-off trainings and certificates. Participants will receive online mentorship session to prepared for cascading their knowledge across public institutions. This ripple effect is expected to reach hundreds more women—embedding digital leadership where it’s needed the most.
By centering women in Ethiopia’s digital transformation, the initiative is doing more than closing the gender gap. It’s challenging long-standing norms about who gets to lead in tech, governance, and public life.
The original version of this story was published on www.undp.org/ethiopia
All photos: UNDP Ethiopia
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