The Netherlands Government has approved a grant of US$500,000 for a second phase of the Gender and Leadership Decision Making project (GLDM) in Ethiopia for the period 2004 to 2006. The project works with policymakers, women and other leaders at all levels to promote the mainstreaming of gender in all development initiatives of the country. Through partnerships with local NGOs, the project also works with communities, schools, amateur theatre groups.

The project, which started in 2000, employs a comprehensive strategy that combines awareness creation through mass media and other channels, with building the capacity of local partners to mainstream gender in their organizations and programs.

• Some of the activities in the first phase of the project included:
• Training in gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation of development projects.
• Training a core team of trainers.
• Training participants from NGOs, government, women associations and the media.
• Awareness workshops for education officials and teachers.
• Gender Clubs started in primary schools; creative writing competitions.
• IEC materials (posters, T-shirts) production.
• Regular radio programs on gender issues.
• Artistes from Ethiopian National Theatre trained; drama productions staged.
• First issue of Empower, a gender newsletter, published.
• Partner organizations started replication national activities at the grassroots: Drama and music festivals, writing competitions, awareness workshops for leaders.