Balance for Better: Gender Balance in the Ethiopian Media Outlets

International Women’s Day – IWD  (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender balance. The 2019 IWD theme is #BalanceforBetter, which stresses on the need for gender balance in the boardroom, in the government, in the media, in organizations and in wealth distribution. This year’s theme is about highlighting that gender balance is not just a women’s issue; rather, a business issue. In line with this international call to #BalanceforBetter, we look locally and explore gender balance in the Ethiopian media outlets.

Following the Government of Ethiopia’s remarkable move in bringing gender balance in the cabinet, it is high time that we explore how and if the media is representing women in politics.

On March 7th 2019, Earuyan Solutions will commemorate International Women’s Day on AWiB’s monthly platform. EaruyanSolutions is a social impact driven feminist company offering workshops, forum, research, project/programme design and content development solutions with a particular focus on projects promoting gender equality and leadership development. Our vision is to be a leading social impact driven company-providing gender equality and transformative leadership promoting solutions for organizations and projects throughout Eastern Africa and the Horn region.

The following activities will be part of this year’s IWD celebration:

Panel Discussion: The public sphere of politics has been the domain of men for a long time. As more women take on a leadership role in Ethiopian political landscape, it is important that we start looking closely at how the media react to this new development. Through our Africa and the world, we have seen how women politicians have been criticized or vilified for being too strong or too timid.   In this panel discussion, we will discuss the kind of narratives that are emerging in the media with regards to women taking up a role in the executive, legislative and the judiciary.

We will invite a group of women and men panellists with media background to look at how media has been reporting on women in politics, what are the merging trends and narratives in covering stories of women in politics and what are some of the key signs media houses should look out for.

Community Conversation: Earuyan Solutions will also be facilitating a community conversation where participants will be encouraged to discuss and articulate on their take away on the panel discussion and the actions that they will take individually and collectively towards creating a gender balanced environment.

Selfie and Pledge Session: in line with the IWD theme of #BalanceForBetter, we will invite guests and media practitioners to play their role in ensuring fair and equal representation of women in media with our #BalanceForBetter pledge cut outboards. The pictures taken during the event will be repurposed in our social media space as well as integrated into the bigger global #BalanceForBetter movement.

Join us on Thursday March 7th 2019 as we explore, challenge and reflect on the existing gender balance in the Ethiopian media outlets in an interactive and constructive panel discussion and community conversation.

Investment: 350 Birr for members, 450 Birr for non-members, free for Executive Members for dinner & program
RSVP is a MUST. Text full name to 0947350259 or reservation@awib.org.et

Reserved seats are not guaranteed after 6:00 PM