ACTIVITIES

CGS is currently active in four major areas of focus, namely, education (MA Program), research, training, publication and dissemination, which are interrelated endeavors that form the basis for understanding gender relations and dynamics in Ethiopia.

Education

The major activities of the Center for Gender Studies are conducting an MA program in Gender Studies both under the regular and evening programs, and offering courses on gender to students in other departments of the University.

CGS launched its MA program in Gender Studies in 2005. When it was established, the MA program in Gender Studies was the first of its kind in Ethiopia. Since its establishment, CGS has registered a number of remarkable achievements in the area of gender. These include:

• Educating and training experts in the field of gender to contribute to the development process;
• Working towards integrating gender issues in the curricula of a wide variety of institutions;
• Increasing gender awareness both within and outside the University through lecture series and seminars on key issues of gender and development; and
• Encouraging independent researchers, graduates and undergraduate students to conduct studies on gender issues by providing material, expert and financial support

Research and Community Services

The Center for Gender Studies has been engaging in various partnership research projects in which a number of research outputs (Books, Journal articles, MA theses, and research reports) have been produced. Among others, these include:

• RIG/DPR (Gender, Diversity, Peace and Right) project, funded by NORAD
• Gender and Reproductive Health Project, funded by the Packard Foundation
• Gender and Education Project, Funded by the Forum for African women Educationalists (FAWE)
• NUFU Project, funded by the Norwegian Program for Development, Research and Education

In addition, it has also been:

• Mobilizing resources needed for research;
• Undertaking research;
• Offering competitive grants for scholars and students for research on gender issues;
• Disseminating knowledge on gender through publications and public fora; and
• Supporting students from different departments and other researchers in conducting their research in the areas of gender; and
• Assisting other higher educational institutions in initiating gender studies programs.

Training

CGS has been conducting training programs on gender issues for participants drawn from academic institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations and the public at large.

Consulting

 Advising and consulting government and non-government organizations.

Publication and Dissemination:

• CGS Publishes newsletters, research outputs including student researches.
• The Center organizes workshops, public lectures and seminars on timely gender matters.
• Engaging in scholarly debates on conceptual and theoretical issues as they apply in the Ethiopian context.
• It also conducts seminar series with a purpose to support the students’ planning, writing, fieldwork, proposal and thesis development process and to enable students to critically assesse academic writing and to provide vital forum for students to discuss competing theoretical positions and approaches. To this end, all students are required to take part in various seminars during their time at the center.