The Impact of Gender Office Support on Female Students at Dilla University

Emawayish, who had no financial support from her parents, covered her secondary school expenses by working as a maid in her hometown of Bilbala, in North Wollo Zone of Amhara Region. Despite facing financial difficulties, she passed the higher education entrance exam and joined Dilla University to pursue a career as a Health Officer. The Gender Office at Dilla Medical and Health Science College, with support from the USAID-funded Strengthening Human Resource for Health (HRH) Project, provided financial assistance to Emawayish and other female students in need. Eden, the Gender Officer, identified lack of financial support as a major factor contributing to the high dismissal rate of female students from higher education institutions. Other reasons include the new and sometimes unfavorable teaching and learning environment, poor academic background, sexual harassment, and peer pressure. The Gender Office offers comprehensive support to female students, including academic, financial, and psychosocial assistance. With funding from the HRH Project, the college provided life skills training for 65 female students, organized orientation and discussion forums for 206 students, facilitated gender-responsive pedagogy training for 15 faculty members, and awarded 29 best-performing female students. The office also arranged tutorial sessions and strengthened existing study networks to improve the academic performance of female students. The HRH Project has supported gender interventions in 51 public higher education institutions, benefiting approximately 12,000 female students and 2,000 male students nationwide. Investing in the retention of female students in higher education is expected to increase women's share in the health workforce in the future. By providing financial assistance and comprehensive support, the Gender Office at Dilla University Medical and Health Science College has helped female students like Emawayish to overcome financial constraints and achieve their academic goals. The support provided by the Gender Office has a significant impact on the academic performance and retention of female students. By addressing financial constraints, providing academic support, and promoting a positive learning environment, the office has helped to reduce the dismissal rate of female students and increase their chances of success. The HRH Project's investment in gender interventions has made a significant contribution to the retention of female students in higher education, paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive health workforce in the future.