WOMEN PARTICIPATION AND DECISION MAKING IN LEADERSHIP: IN SELECTED PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HADIYA ZONE

Abstract

This study was conducted in Hadiya zone with the main objective of assessing women’s participation and decision making in leadership in selected public institutions of Hadiya Zone. Furthermore, the study assess the status of women participation and decision making in leadership, identify challenges and opportunities of women participation in decision making and leadership and explored women empowerment strategies and mechanisms in public institutions to enhance their participation in decision making and leadership. The study employed a descriptive survey method combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected by identifying 182 sample respondents through multistage stratified sampling procedures. In qualitative analysis key informants as well as focus group discussants were purposively selected. The result of the study revealed that women are underrepresented in leadership positions in which they accounted only one third of leadership positions. Major factors that hamper women participation in leadership and decision making were personal, social and institutional factors namely lack of recommendation, lack of delegation, socio- cultural factors, lack of confidence and male dominancy. Despite these factors that affect women participation in leadership and decision making there were opportunities that enhanced participation and decision making of women in leadership include modernization, increasing of women involvement in education, increasing the role media and communication and training and capacity building. Furthermore, working on recruitment strategy, labor division for the workers, representing women in committee activities, training and capacity building, senior level leaders empower other women, invest time and energy in helping women's weakness and fulfill the need and concern of women were strategies and mechanisms to ensure women participation and decision making in leadership. Finally, arranging and developing training to upgrade women leaders’ capabilities, recognition and acknowledgement to women leaders at all levels, arranging nationwide awareness raising programs and women sensitization programs were imperative to empower women participation and decision making in leadership in public institutions in Hadiya zone.