This article is co-authored by Gender expert and team-leader at yellow movement Betselot Kefelegn Sahle.
Feminist Movements and Crisis
The feminist movement refers to a series of political campaigns focused on reforming social, political, and economic issues that affect women’s lives. These efforts are united by a commitment to challenging patriarchal systems, using a gender-based lens to analyze power structures, and confronting norms that uphold gender-based inequalities. In the East and Horn of Africa these movements have expanded significantly over the past four decades, achieving critical milestones in legal reform, political representation, economic empowerment, and gender-based violence (GBV) awareness. These movements have pushed for policies on reproductive rights, education, and healthcare, leading to incremental growth. While this growth—largely fueled by transnational funding and global women’s rights discourse—is worth celebrating, it requires navigating substantial challenges that plague the crisis-prone region.
The region faces a complex crisis landscape, with conflict, violence against women, attacks on democracy and resource scarcity disproportionately affecting women and the organizations that represent them. In the past decade, and particularly post-COVID-19, feminist organizers have faced new challenges. Conservative populist movements have pushed back against gender equality, even co-opting feminist agendas. This trend aligns with global patterns of democratic weakening and authoritarianism, seen in places like Ethiopia, where restrictive policies limit freedoms essential for advocacy, making it harder for feminist movements to sustain momentum.
Given these substantial challenges, it is essential for feminist movements to develop resilient and adaptable strategies that can withstand the region’s shifting socio-political landscape. This essay explores the resilience and strategies of feminist movements in crisis-prone regions, focusing on Ethiopia’s Yellow Movement to highlight lessons for navigating challenges like shrinking civic spaces, resource scarcity, and opposition to gender equality.
Ethiopia: From Reform to Repression
In 2018, Ethiopia appeared poised for democratic reform under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, with expanded rights to free expression, the appointment of women to power, and reduced restrictions on foreign funding and international organizations, signaling a shift towards greater freedom for civil society groups
Yet, these promising beginnings were soon marred by ongoing authoritarian practices and human rights abuses, which escalated in 2020 with the onset of a war between the Federal Government and Regional Forces in Tigray. Between July 2021 and July 2022, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reported widespread abuses, property destruction and sexual assault of civilians by state and non-state actors.
Resilience in Action: Lessons from Yellow Movement
In October 2011, the horrific case of Aberash Hailay, a flight attendant who was stabbed in her eyes by her husband, sparked a wide outrage in Ethiopia. Her story triggered demands for justice and pledges to remember her name as a symbol of resistance against violence. Yet, as the public’s attention faded, the founders of the Yellow Movement (YM) – then law students at Addis Ababa University, realized that reactions to violence against women (VAW) in Ethiopia were often fleeting, with the collective response failing to bring lasting change. Reflecting on the inspiration behind the movement in an interview with the Review of African Political Economy (ROAPE), co-founder Hilina Berhanu explained, “We decided to initiate a consistent conversation in wanting to draw attention to issues of violence against women in Ethiopia. The name yellow came to be used because of the optimism of the color, and our work that is grounded in the possibilities of change and positive disruption.”
Launched as Ethiopia’s first informal, student-led initiative on a university campus, Yellow Movement has spent over a decade fostering discussions on VAW, protecting and supporting young women’s personal development and mobilizing youth as a powerful force for change, making the movement a valuable case study for feminist organizations in the Global South.
A powerful takeaway from YM is her commitment to intersectionality and her skill in building intentional, well-curated alliances. Through outreach activities like “Yellow week” initiated to network with other young feminists, YM has managed to sustain her momentum and longevity, demonstrating that fostering genuine allyship with diverse yet aligned groups is crucial for the resilience and impact of feminist movements worldwide.
Another critical lesson from YM is the unique strength that informal movements can bring to feminist advocacy. When restrictive Civil Society Organisation (CSO) regulations were introduced in 2019, many formal organizations working in governance, democracy, human rights, and conflict resolution were either shut down or faced harassment for alleged rule violations. However, as an informal and independent movement with no government affiliation, YM was able to avoid these constraints. During this period, YM led impactful initiatives that highlighted her influence. Her Valentine’s Day Fund Raiser raised funds through flower and chocolate sales to provide sanitary pads for female students in need. Pagume Activism used Ethiopia’s 13th month to run successful new year digital advocacy campaigns, while weekly Table Day Discussions engaged campus staff and students in conversations on gender issues. Though current political tensions have paused her online presence, these efforts show how YM’s informal structure enables creative adaptation while leaving a lasting impact.
Additionally, feminist movements could benefit from adopting a distributed, less hierarchical leadership model. Often called a “leaderless model”, it doesn’t eliminate leadership but rather emphasizes a multiplicity of leaders working across different spaces and addressing diverse needs. The YM adopts a horizontal structure because it aligns with its foundation in radical feminism, which critiques hierarchical systems for perpetuating power imbalances and exclusion. This structure not only reflects their commitment to intersectionality—addressing sexism alongside other interconnected forms of oppression—but also emphasizes collective responsibility, shared ownership, and genuine engagement.
As Helina Mesfin, a member of the Yellow Movement, described, “This [leaderless model] results in an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard, so the atmosphere is welcoming and supportive, allowing us to connect personally, share our experiences, and work together towards a common goal.
An essential yet often neglected aspect of strengthening feminist movements is care as an ethic of organizing. Care and wellbeing have emerged as central pillars in building resilient movements, emphasizing that emotional and physical support are fundamental to sustaining feminist resistance. Feminists have long redefined care, not as a secondary or private concern, but as a vital part of collective action.
Guided by the belief, YM commits to ensure care and well-being of members. This commitment is reflected in yearly retreats that prioritize self-care activities such as yoga and breathing exercises creating a space for members to recharge and reflect. During monthly meetings, time is allotted for personal updates, fostering open conversations and providing a space to hold and support one another. YM also actively promotes healthy ways of managing stress, such as journaling, by providing journals and guides for new members to help build a culture of mindfulness. Members are encouraged to communicate with kindness and openness, ensuring a supportive environment. If members feel unwell or drained, YM encourages them to step back and recharge without apprehension.
Yoga session during YM’s yearly retreat
What’s Next
In examining YM, this article explores how the movement weaves together strategies that include holistic care, rapid response, inclusivity in relief, solidarity mobilization, and community-centered hubs to address and adapt to crises—innovative approaches that contribute to lasting impact. Yet, there is more to be done.
For Feminist Movements:
With the reliance on external funding threatening movements’ survival during crisis, there is a need to innovate sustainable funding models. One effective approach is partnering with the private sector. Companies often align their corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals with gender equity initiatives, creating opportunities for collaboration. Such is the case of Kenya’s Akili Dada, who manage to provide scholarships and leadership training for young women by partnering with corporations whose CSR objectives support feminist education and empowerment.
Movements should also diversify their income streams through, social enterprises and grassroot funding, activities that generate income while simultaneously advancing movement goals. The Yellow Movement’s Valentine’s Day flower sales exemplify this approach, combining advocacy with revenue generation. Similar ventures, such as selling branded merchandise or offering paid workshops, can provide steady income streams while strengthening community ties.
Establishing endowments or feminist funds is another key strategy for ensuring long-term financial sustainability. By building endowments with support from philanthropic organizations or private donors, feminist movements can create reliable income streams to fund ongoing initiatives.
Moving forward, movements need to leverage digital platforms to expand reach and mobilize resources. During the 2019 revolution, digital mobilization by Sudanese women played a pivotal role in the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir, bringing global visibility to Sudanese women and mobilizing global support for the cause. By integrating online advocacy with fundraising campaigns, movements can amplify their reach and visibility.
Lastly, regardless of organizational structure, feminist movements need to invest in nurturing young talent and promoting young women’s leadership within their organizations. This focus on leadership development is essential for creating viable succession plans that will ensure sustainability.
For Policymakers:
Ultimately, to secure lasting impact, feminist movements also need a significant presence in formal policy and political spaces. While community-based activism and digital platforms are vital, having a “seat at the table” in policy discussions helps safeguard and advance the gains won by feminist advocates. Such presence is essential for countering backlash against gender equality and for ensuring that policy agendas reflect feminist principles. The advocacy space requires a balance: movements like YM with her focus on community organizing, play a crucial in maintain independence and advancing gender equality through education and activism. At the same time, other initiatives must prioritize engaging with political spaces and lobbying for change within formal institutions. A visible, effective presence in formal spaces will enable feminist movements to challenge rollback efforts, support gender-inclusive policy gains, and push for reforms that sustain the focus on equity and justice.