The Activism Gets Funded But Not the Women Beneficiaries

The Activism Gets Funded But Not the Women Beneficiaries

Apr 26 , 2025. By Ahmed T. Abdulkadir ( AhmedT. Abdulkadir (ahmedteyib.abdulkadir@addisfortune.net) is the Editor-in-Chief at Addis Fortune. With a critical eye on class dynamics, public policy, and the cultural undercurrents shaping Ethiopian society. )

Gender activism has become so well-funded that it can almost afford to forget its original purpose. Over the past decade, international NGOs and donor-funded programs working on women's empowerment have grown dramatically. Yet, despite substantial financial investment and widespread visibility, deep-rooted structural barriers to gender equality remain essentially unchanged.

Many of the issues come from the way these programs are conceived and funded. Donor organisations frequently shape projects according to their own priorities rather than addressing the practical needs of the communities they wish to serve. A prevalent example is the proliferation of women’s entrepreneurship programs, designed to help female business owners. While these initiatives promise empowerment through microloans and business training sessions, they rarely address the larger systemic issues such as property ownership, gendered labour divisions, and restrictive cultural norms.

Programs focusing on entrepreneurship are attractive to donors because they produce quantifiable outcomes, such as the number of women trained or businesses established. This fits neatly into annual reports. However, the deeper issues, such as limited access to credit or markets, workplace harassment, or the heavy burden of unpaid domestic labour, rarely appear in donor reports. Real-life struggles remain hidden underneath polished success stories.

Take the anecdote of Ethiopia’s gender equality awards, often given to high-achieving women in business or politics.

These awards make headlines, promoting individual accomplishments. Yet, they frequently overlook the underlying systemic issues that prevent most women from achieving similar success. The result is a superficial celebration that does little to dismantle barriers faced by ordinary women.

The parliamentary quota system is similarly illustrative. Initially celebrated as a major win for gender equality, it increased women’s representation. However, questions persist about what tangible outcomes this representation has delivered.

Have these women legislators succeeded in passing meaningful laws to challenge oppressive structures?

Too often, the mere presence of women in positions of power is treated as the solution itself, despite the reality that many of these women remain constrained by, and sometimes benefit from, the systems they are supposed to reform. Gender-based violence initiatives funded by donors usually prioritise awareness campaigns rather than addressing the source. Economic dependency, a lack of legal protections, and deeply ingrained societal attitudes often remain unchallenged, making such initiatives largely symbolic rather than transformative.

Another fundamental problem with donor-driven activism is the dependency it creates on external funding. Projects operating within the short-term development cycles of international aid often prioritise easily measurable outputs over long-term systemic outcomes. When funding dries up, as the recent unfolding of USAID has illustrated, these projects often disappear, leaving behind little lasting impact.

The pattern of short-lived initiatives funded by international donors has been evident repeatedly. Organisations come and go with grant cycles, and communities see a marginal mark. Structural change, which requires sustained effort and local ownership, frequently takes a backseat to the demands of donor reporting cycles.

Who truly benefits from donor-driven gender activism?

Often, the most beneficiaries are not the intended recipients, but rather the organisations and their donors. High-ranking officials, foreign consultants, and conference organisers convene in luxury venues, discussing empowerment in a detached, almost theoretical, and sometimes theatrical manner. The women at the centre of these discussions remain noticeably absent, appearing only as anecdotes or statistical references.

The spectacle of empowerment conferences shows this disconnect vividly. These lavishly funded gatherings feature expensive catering, polished workshops, and plush accommodations. They offer excellent opportunities for donor organisations to showcase their "impact" to funding entities abroad. However, real outcomes for women on the ground remain minimal.

The power imbalance inherent in donor-driven gender activism further exacerbates the issue. Donors, who control financial resources, often dictate agendas based on their own interests, rather than those of the women they are meant to benefit. These interests typically align with maintaining funding streams, favouring superficial, easily quantifiable projects rather than dealing with more profound structural inequalities.

Real empowerment requires addressing economic inequality, educational disparities, and marginalisation. Unfortunately, the current global gender agenda appears more focused on crafting feel-good narratives for international audiences. This approach overlooks the reality that Ethiopian women continue to face poverty, limited educational opportunities, and systemic marginalisation. True empowerment will come when Ethiopian women are seen not as passive recipients of external assistance but as active participants in their development. It involves supporting women's initiatives, encouraging community-led solutions, and promoting genuine self-organisation.

The current model of donor-driven activism has transformed empowerment into a marketable commodity. Conferences, awards, and glossy reports have become the currency of international development, traded on the global stage for prestige and continued funding. The struggle for women's rights and equality risks becoming overshadowed by performances that emphasise symbolism over substance.

It is time to shift the conversation and recalibrate priorities. Empowering Ethiopian women should move beyond donor-driven projects that treat gender equality as a checklist. Sustainable change will require addressing the underlying causes of inequality and involving women as active, central participants in their struggle for justice.

PUBLISHED ON Apr 26,2025 [ VOL 26 , NO 1304]

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