The 2nd round Women in Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods workshop held in Jimma 

Following the partnership agreement entered with the GIZ for Implementation of administrative matters in Ethiopia, OSSREA organized the 2nd round ‘‘Women in Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods’’ workshop, following the workshop held in Arba-Minch in February and an Event at the International Women’s Day in March. The two-day workshop was held from April 27-28, 2023 at Central Jimma Hotel in Jimma, in the presence of various participants and researchers from the four-research-regions of Ethiopia (West Gojjam, Sidama Region, Jimma and Gamo zones). The workshop had three sessions: the opening speech, presentations by the site-researchers followed by comments of focal persons and open discussion with the participants. The workshop was led by Prof. Günther Schlee, the academic director of the research.

During the opening session, Prof. Günther Schlee laid out some emerging themes of the research, namely the distinction between male and female crops, how that relates to commercialization of agriculture and food security, and the role of enset (false banana) in there of the research areas. He also thanked the organizers for the event and welcomed guests from Jimma University and Addis Ababa University. In the Presentation session the findings in each research site were presented by the corresponding researchers: - Dr. Tirsit Sahledengle of West Gojjam Zone, Mrs. Bethel Begashaw & Mr. Eyob Defersha of Sidama Region, Miss Zera Alo and Miss Lidia Assegid of Jimma Zone and Miss Wengelawit Ayka and Miss Desalech Daniel of Gamo Zone. After presentation of each research group, comments were made by the focal persons of the corresponding research group: - Mr. Estifanos Semineh of West Gojjam Zone, Mr. Solomon Zewde of Sidama Region, Mr. Nuredin Jemal of Jimma Zone and Mr. Andarge Toska and Mr. Shimelis Degefa of Gamo Zone. The following open discussion provided mutual inspiration between the regional components of the ‘Women in Agriculture’ project and opened comparative perspectives.