Enhancing the Role of Borderland Communities in Ethiopia’s Foreign Policy

Ethiopia’s borderland communities (BLCs) have historically influenced the country’s relations with its neighbours. These peripheral regions often serve as hubs for cross-border trade, repositories of natural resources and, at times, flashpoints of conflict. Surrounded by six neighbouring countries – Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan – Ethiopia has frequently leveraged its borderlands as […]
Women in the Social Sciences and Humanities in Ethiopia: The case of Addis Ababa University

This preliminary assessment is part of the launch exercise of the Ethiopian Women Researchers’ Network (EWNET). Focusing on Addis Ababa University as a pioneering higher institution in the country, the study looks into the status of women within these disciplines examining their representation, research activities, mobility challenges, and other factors that influence their academic engagement. […]
Iddir in Contemporary Social Science and Humanities Research in Ethiopia: Historicizing and theorizing local infrastructures of care
The second Ethiopian Women Researchers Network (EWNET) seminar was delivered by Desalegn Amsalu, Anteneh Tesfaye, Yasmin Bushra and Helen Zeru on 3 July 2025 at Addis Ababa University’s Alle School of Fine Arts & Design. EWNET SEMINAR SERIES REPORT The seminar examined how iddir, Ethiopia’s traditional mutual assistance organizations, might be researched and expanded as […]
EWNET Ep 6: Amplifying Women’s Voices – A Conversation with Dr Muna Abubeker

On EWNET Podcast Episode 6, Dr. Muna Abubeker, the first woman philologist in Ethiopia, shares her journey into the field, her research experiences, and her work in language and cultural studies. She reflects on the challenges and milestones in her career, offering personal insights into her path as a woman researcher. Dr. Muna has reflected […]
EWNET Ep 5: Amplifying Ethiopian Women Researchers’ Voices – Conversations with Dr Serawit Debele

In this episode, EWNET Principal Dr. Netsanet Gebremichael speaks with Dr. Serawit Bekele Debele about her intellectual journey, from early academic interests to becoming a leading voice in German and Ethiopian academia. They explore her key works, including Locating Politics in Ethiopia’s Irreecha and Revolutionary Mothering and her latest contributions to feminist theory and political […]
EWNET Ep 4: Dr Mercy Fekadu on Parliament in Ethiopia – Participation, Representation & Resistance

In this episode, we meet Dr Mercy Fekadu, a researcher with a published book ‘Parliament in Ethiopia: Participation, Representation and Resistance’. She talks about how she got into research, the research process and her experiences in this process. She also discusses some of the book’s major findings and highlights some important points. በዚህ ክፍል ከዶ/ር […]
EWNET Ep 3: Women in Academia- Research and Reflection with Dr Firehiwot Sintayehu

EWNET Podcast Episode 3 features Dr. Firehiwot Sintayehu Bahiru who is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Addis Ababa University. She concurrently holds the position of Interim Vice Executive Dean for Research and Engagement at the College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities. Dr. Ferehiwot presents her recent RVI/EWNET commissioned work, […]
EWNET Ep 2: A glimpse of experiences from Dr Muna Abubeker and Dr Weynishet Girma with Sara Bushira

EWNET Podcast Episode 2 offers a glimpse of experiences from Ethiopian women researchers: Muna Abubeker (PhD) and Weynishet Girma (PhD) with host Sara Bushira (an independent curator). In this episode, we meet Weynishet Girma Ayansa (PhD) and Muna Abubeker (PhD). We learn about their experiences in their respective fields, how they are able to navigate […]
EWNET Ep 1: Introducing EWNET with Dr Netsanet Gebremichale and Dalaya Ashenafi

In EWNET Podcast Episode 1, EWNET Lead Principal Dr Netsanet Gebremichale and Deputy Principal Dalaya Ashenafi delve into the thought process behind EWNET, its conceptualization, and the network’s significance in mapping the presence and absence of women researchers. They also offer personal reflections on their research journeys and the nurturing of their curiosity. ዋና አስተባባሪ […]
Launch of the Ethiopian Women Researchers Network (EWNET): Event report

This report details the launch event for the Ethiopian Women Researchers Network (EWNET). The event took place on 6 February 2025 from 9.00 a.m.–2.30 p.m. at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa. It was organized by the Peace Research Facility (PRF) of the Rift Valley Institute (RVI), with generous support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth […]