As the country accelerates its digital transformation under the Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy, the promise of inclusion is clear. Yet the reality is more complex. 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.

From Learners to Leaders: The Women’s Digital Champions Initiative

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. 

“This is not just a training session,” Commissioner Mekuria Haile (Phd) said, emphasising that it is “part of a movement where women are not just consumers of technology, but are creators, leaders and policy shapers in the digital transformation of Ethiopia.” 

The commissioner is referring here 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. 

Last month, 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. 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.”

Beyond the Workshop: Building a Movement

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.

UNDP’s FuturesSmart work is made possible through contributions from Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea to the UNDP Funding Window—partners committed to building a more inclusive and equitable world, both on and offline.