The Impact of Corporate Governance on Women's Financial Inclusion and Economic Empowerment in Selected Ethiopian Private Commercial Banks located in Addis Ababa

This study examined the effect of corporate governance on women's financial inclusion and economic empowerment in Addis Ababa's private commercial banks.Utilizing a mixed-methods approach and both primary and secondary data, the research employed descriptive and inferential statistics like Pearson correlation and regression to analyze the relationships between variables.The findings revealed several challenges.There was a notable lack of saving promotion for women through various media, despite banks' general efforts to boost savings.While banks discussed women's credit policies, women's participation in decision-making and accountability for financial inclusion plans were major issues.The study also found that despite a well-organized female workforce, there was a shortage of influential female leadership, knowledgeable staff for complex tasks, and sufficient training to bridge skill gaps.Additionally, while relevant digital financial service information was provided, it often lacked timeliness, completeness, and user-friendliness.Customer relations were also found to be deficient, with a failure to properly address customer feedback, arrange meetings, and recognize or award female customers.Ultimately, the study concluded that initiatives focused on increasing savings, improving access to credit, boosting female labor force participation, and enhancing digital financial services have a significant positive impact on women's financial inclusion and economic empowerment.