This evaluation of Oxfam’s Female Food Heroes (FFH) Initiative in Ethiopia highlights the critical yet underrecognized role of rural women farmers, who contribute up to 70% of household food production but remain marginalized in policies, services, and decision-making. Since 2012, the FFH Award has celebrated outstanding women farmers, providing them with visibility, leadership training, and platforms for policy advocacy. The program has significantly boosted women’s self-confidence, diversified their livelihoods, and strengthened their capacity to demand more inclusive agricultural policies. Alumni have become role models and advocates, influencing community attitudes and securing some commitments from policymakers.

Despite these achievements, the study reveals persistent challenges. Weak regional platforms, limited resources, over-reliance on government implementers, and entrenched cultural norms have constrained collective action and long-term policy impact. The absence of robust monitoring systems and sustainable funding also limits the program’s effectiveness. Addressing these gaps is essential to ensure that recognition translates into structural change for smallholder women farmers.

The report calls for stronger partnerships with government, civil society, and the private sector; greater investment in capacity building, alumni networks, and gender-transformative approaches; and more systematic use of research and media to influence policy. Expanding the number of awardees, diversifying funding, and institutionalizing alumni platforms will be crucial to sustain the momentum. Ultimately, the FFH Initiative demonstrates that empowering women in agriculture is not only a matter of equity but also a pathway to food security, economic growth, and gender justice in Ethiopia.

This report is one of two evaluation studies conducted on the Female Food Heroes (FFH) Programme, designed to assess its strategies, achievements, challenges, and opportunities. Together, these evaluations provide evidence and lessons to inform the sustainability and future development of the initiative across the wider programme. You can find the study on Nigeria here and a synthesis report of the two case studies here.