The Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission under the auspice of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC-DICAC) said it has designed gender responsive development projects in a bid to ensure equality of women.

Gender issues have become one of the priorities of the commission this budget year to enable women participate as well as benefit from the on-going development projects, Commission Gender and Development Main Department Head Emebet Woldeyes told ENA recently.

She said the Commission had been undertaking various awareness raising projects on women's affairs, harmful traditional practices, and other gender issues at a cost of over 2 million birr over the last five years.

The head said the department has been making preparations to provide vocational training to low-income girls, PLWHA and AIDS-orphaned girls as of self-supportive next year with a view to making them.

The gap between men and women is too wide in political, social, and economic sectors, she said, adding various affirmative actions would be taken in a bid to narrow the gap.

According to the head, the main department in collaboration with other development partners would strive to bring about desirable change on the part of the public on gender issues.