An Assessment of Women Participation in Leadership Positions in Public Institutions: A Case of Selected Public Institutions in A Wolaita Zone

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Authors

Tesfaye Barge Koyra
Department of Management College of Business and Economics School of Graduate Studies Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2258-8300

Keywords:

Women’s participation, Leadership positions , Public institutions , Gender equality, Public administration, Gender gap

Synopsis

Women encounter multiple challenges in attaining leadership positions due to various factors. The purpose of this research is to examine the determinants affecting women’s participation in leadership roles and to explore the possibilities of enhancing their involvement. This study is grounded in the observation that the number of female leaders is significantly lower than that of male leaders, both at the national level and within public institutions of the Wolaita zone.

The study aimed to identify the factors hindering women’s participation in leadership and to analyze the challenges they face in pursuing such positions within Wolaita Zone public institutions. For this purpose, both primary and secondary data were collected through questionnaires, focus group discussions, and reviews of printed documents from multiple sources. A multistage sampling technique was applied to select respondents from the target population.

The findings reveal that women are substantially underrepresented in higher-level leadership roles, primarily due to political factors, followed by government policies and organizational barriers. In contrast, personal or individual barriers were found to be the least significant contributors, followed by socio-cultural challenges.

To address the existing gender gap in leadership, public institutions are encouraged to implement affirmative action policies, such as reserving quotas for women at the entry level and establishing clear criteria for managerial appointments. The government should also prioritize academic merit alongside political commitment when assigning both women and men to leadership roles. Additionally, it should strengthen legal and policy frameworks to promote women’s participation, ensure strict enforcement, and introduce programs that help reduce the challenges of balancing work and family responsibilities.

The study further emphasizes the importance of creating women-friendly leadership environments—for instance, ensuring that meetings conclude on time and within working hours. Moreover, sustained efforts must be made to increase women’s representation in leadership positions and to monitor implementation processes aimed at achieving gender parity across all decision-making bodies.

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Published

19 August 2025
Copyright (c) 2025 Tesfaye Barge Koyra

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978-93-7185-819-9

Details about the available publication format: Book (Paperback)

Book (Paperback)

ISBN-13 (15)

978-93-7185-514-3

How to Cite

Koyra, T. B. . (2025). An Assessment of Women Participation in Leadership Positions in Public Institutions: A Case of Selected Public Institutions in A Wolaita Zone. Deep Science Publishing. https://doi.org/10.70593/978-93-7185-819-9
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