Women’s empowerment, barriers, and political participation in post-war Tigray, 2024

Armed conflict leaves long-lasting effects on civilian populations, especially women, who face multiple vulnerabilities in post-war settings. The two-year conflict in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia severely disrupted women’s livelihoods, family structures, and community roles. Although humanitarian impacts have been widely documented, there is limited empirical evidence on how the conflict affected women’s political participation and empowerment during recovery. This study assessed women’s leadership engagement, decision-making roles, and barriers to participation after the conflict. A community-based concurrent mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted from August 30 to September 30, 2024, in nine Woredas across three zones of Tigray. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 848 women through structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. A multi-stage sampling approach was used. Data quality was ensured through pilot testing and digital data collection using ODK. Quantitative data were analyzed with SPSS version 27, and qualitative data were examined thematically. The study included 848 participants, the majority of whom were urban residents and had low educational attainment. Paired samples t-tests showed significant declines in women’s leadership roles, participation in decision-making, safety, and access to essential services after the war (all p < 0.001). Women reported increased exposure to violence, restricted mobility, psychological distress, and reduced legal protection (p < 0.01). Access to economic resources and services such as healthcare and education also declined markedly (p < 0.001). The conflict in Tigray significantly reduced women’s political participation, leadership opportunities, and access to essential services, while increasing their exposure to violence and insecurity. Addressing structural barriers, strengthening legal protections, and restoring essential services are critical to improving women’s empowerment in the recovery period.