Healers to Leaders Project - Amref’s Integrated Health Systems Strengthening (IHSS) Program

The Healers to Leaders project is part of Amref’s Integrated Health Systems Strengthening program, which MaMeLa is implementing. It is an initiative designed to equip Ethiopian women in the healthcare workforce with the skills, knowledge and support necessary to succeed in leadership roles.

Women make up the majority of Ethiopia’s healthcare workforce, yet they remain vastly underrepresented in leadership. In response, as part of Amref’s Integrated Health Systems Strengthening (IHSS) program, MaMeLa is leading a transformative initiative to build the leadership capacity of women healthcare professionals across Ethiopia. The project focuses on empowering women through practical, community-based training and ongoing support, equipping them to take on decision-making roles. Through a comprehensive approach, MaMeLa is not only empowering individual women but also reshaping the leadership landscape in Ethiopia’s health sector. The project is paving the way for a more equitable, inclusive, and effective health system.

Over the past months, the Healers to Leaders initiative has reached 15 woredas across Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Sidama, and Somali regions. Our approach to leadership development is simple but powerful: build capacity, provide support, and create community.

In Their Words, transformation is best heard directly:

After the forum and HIL training, my communication skills improved significantly. It gave me the confidence to express myself clearly.

Emebet Yiamam

Afar, Chifra

Jara Health Center

Thanks to the training I received, I can now stand confidently in front of anyone, something I never imagined before.

Ergoye Desalegn

Afar, Chifra

Waama Health Center

The HIL training helped me to take a step forward. The encouragement and support I received played a crucial role in achieving the position I now hold. The forum and mentorship gave me a strong support system.

Tringo Mulat

Amhara, Kalu

Degan Health Center

I used to underestimate my potential and even believed that leadership was something only men could do better. I realize now how wrong.

Darartu Chemeda Tolessa

Oromia, Shebe

Kishe Health Center

I was asleep and I feel like I just woke up from a dream.

Etagu Toe

Sidama, Wensho

Fero Health Center

… after witnessing women in leadership roles and receiving mentorship, I began to question myself: “Both men and women graduate from the same colleges or universities with similar qualifications, so why did I lose my confidence?

Lemlem Hariso Hayiso

Sidama, Wensho

Hunkute Health Center

I have grown into a person who embraces my feelings. In the past, I was very shy and hesitant to express my ideas in public. Now, I speak my thoughts with confidence, support my female colleagues, and actively raise awareness in the community about gender-based violence and women’s empowerment.

Menen Girma

Sidama, Hawella

Galuko Herriye Health Center

Previously, I had a chance to assume a leadership role, but I refused to take it! However, my participation on the women’s leadership forum encouraged me to look inside myself

Misru Usman

Somali, Gursum

Gorey Health Center

The Work So Far

Here’s what that’s looked like in practice:

Women’s Leadership Forums

Two rounds were conducted, reaching 1,203 participants (1,143 of them women). These forums became safe spaces for reflection, confidence-building, and conversations about what it means to lead in real, lived contexts.

Mentorship

Five mentorship cycles matched women with leaders at regional and facility levels. These relationships offered practical support, encouragement, and new perspectives, helping women see themselves differently.

High-Impact Leadership (HIL) Training

Six cohorts of 194 women participating in a four-part training series covering self-awareness, gender and leadership, governance, digital literacy, and health system thinking.

Peer-to-Peer Networking

A dedicated Telegram-based network was established, providing a continuous platform for collaboration, resource sharing, and engagement among forum participants. They interacted regularly, with bi-weekly support from the MaMeLa team and monthly group audio or video calls.

Coaching

Between each training round, participants receive tailored, on-site coaching at their workplaces. Trained coaches work directly with them to turn learning into action. They provide guidance on planning and implementing capstone projects, help improve quality using national checklists. This ensures that leadership development moves beyond the classroom and into real, measurable improvements in healthcare delivery.

See How Our Initiatives Touch Lives Through The Stories Of The Women We Work With

Round of in person coaching completed

Rounds of HIL training completed

Women promoted to new position

1700

Women participated in forum discussion

179

Women mentored

185

HIL Graduates

Healers to Leaders Gallery

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Healers to Leaders Project - Amref’s Integrated Health Systems Strengthening (IHSS) Program

In Their Words, transformation is best heard directly:

Emebet Yiamam

Ergoye Desalegn

Tringo Mulat

Darartu Chemeda Tolessa

Etagu Toe

Lemlem Hariso Hayiso

Menen Girma

Misru Usman

The Work So Far

Women’s Leadership Forums

Mentorship

High-Impact Leadership (HIL) Training

Peer-to-Peer Networking

Coaching

See How Our Initiatives Touch Lives Through The Stories Of The Women We Work With

Achievements So Far After Project Started

Round of in person coaching completed

Rounds of HIL training completed

Women promoted to new position

Women participated in forum discussion

Women mentored

HIL Graduates

Healers to Leaders Gallery

Forums

Coaching

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