ESSSWA’s second round knowledge sharing forum is held by focusing on gender inequalities and the well-being of children.The forum was conducted on Friday 30 December 2016 starting from 8:30 a.m. at the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology /EGST/. 41 participants (32 male and 9 female) from academic institutions, government stakeholders, NGO practitioners, donors, ESSSWA members and other invited guests have attended the event. Debates on various social issues were made with the aim of enhancing ESSSWA’s role in problem solving action-research and knowledge sharing activities.

Following the introduction of the program by AtoZelalem Anteneh, ESSSWA’s Executive Director, the event was opened by a brief massage of Ato Kebede Ayele, ESSSWA’s board chair person. He has appreciated ESSSWA’s efforts in organizing such kind of knowledge sharing forum and disseminating seminars on various topics. He also expressed his gratitude to ESSSWA’s secretariat and its partners, particularly to UNICEF – Ethiopia for supporting ESSSWA’s activities and organizing such informative event.

Following Ato Kebede’s messages, three research papers have been presented with heated debates and shared in the first session. The first session was facilitated by Dr. Abeje Birihanu. The first presentation has been made by Dr. HagosZeray. His research topic has focused on ‘‘Human Trafficking in Tigray: Awareness and Challenges of the Care and Protective Organizations.’’  The second presentation was on ‘’the Changing and Hidden Aspects of Early marriage Arrangements among the Peasant Communities of FogeraWoreda, N/W Ethiopia‘’ by Eshetu Ewunetu. The third inspiring presentation was made by Mastewal Abawa with the topic of ‘‘Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Reducing Symptoms of Childhood Trauma in Poly-Victimized, Institutionalized Ethiopian Children.’’  Right after the three presentations, discussion has been made on the papers, participants have reflected on various methodological, factual and validation issues for each to be taken home to enrich shared researches.

After health break, two research papers have been presented, debated and shared. The second part of the discussion session was facilitated by Dr. Zena Birhanu. The fourth extensive research was shared by Dr. Dawit Amogne and Yohannes Mersha. Their paper has focused on ‘‘The Status of Society’s Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Gender Equality in Amhara: an Implication for GTP2.’’  The last presentation, but not the least, has been made by Dr. Getne tTadele with the topic focusing on ‘’Social determinants of PMTCT uptake and retention in Addis Ababa.’’ Similarly, right after the last two presentations, discussion has been made on the papers, participants have raised various questions for each presenter and answers have been given by presenters.

Major issues of Debate

           i. First Session

          ii. Second session

Besides, the knowledge sharing forum, other activities like distribution of various publications, particularly, ESSSWA’s Twelfth  Annual Conference Proceeding and the first round knowledge sharing research reports, which is entitled: ‘ESSSWA – Quarterly’ have been made.

Finally, the closing remark was made by Ato Endeshaw Yemane, ESSSSWA’s Research Officer. He thanked all the presenters and participants for attending the knowledge sharing forum. With this the event has come to an end.