The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: Selected Issues

IMF Staff Country Reports, December 4, 2018

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Investigates the macroeconomic impact of existing gender gaps in Ethiopia and discusses the authorities’ policies in the areas of gender equality and women’s rights, with a focus on women’s economic engagement.
Notes a firm political commitment to the advancement of gender equality and women’s rights alongside significant challenges around women’s economic participation.
States that, whilst most people work in Ethiopia, women face many barriers to formal labor force participation, have lower levels of education than men—particularly at secondary and tertiary levels—and have significant wage gaps compared to men.
Concludes that eliminating gender gaps in both educational attainment and the rate of formal employment could increase output in Ethiopia over time by over 24 percent.
Recommends improved institutional capacity to better integrate gender issues into the planning and implementation of government policies.
Reports that Ethiopia has already embedded gender units within the structure of many of its ministries.

Eliminating gender gaps in educational attainment and the rate of formal employment could increase output in Ethiopia over time by over 24 percent.
Women have lower levels of education than men, particularly at secondary and tertiary levels (qualitative statement as presented).
Women face many barriers to formal labor force participation and have significant wage gaps compared to men (qualitative statement as presented).

Improve institutional capacity to integrate gender issues into government planning and policy implementation.
Leverage existing gender units embedded within the structure of many ministries to mainstream gender considerations across policies affecting education, labor force participation, and wages.

IMF Staff Country Report: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: Selected Issues