Women continue to aspire for leadership positions in all spheres of governance in both the public and private sector. Increasing the level of women’s cooperative leadership and governance is an important objective internationally and domestically. The main objective of this study was to investigate factors affecting women leadership performance and governance of cooperatives in Dire Dawa City Administration. This study employed explanatory research design. 239 women leaders and committee members were selected using census method and 233 questionnaires were returned. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean, and standard deviation and analytical statistics in terms multiple liner regression model was employed. The study found that women are effective in leadership and ensuring good governance of cooperatives. Self-efficacy, social status, economic independency and organizational flexibility positively affect the women leadership performance. This study implies that formulation of comprehensive policy and women empowerment will ensure their ascendency to leadership on co-operative societies and cooperatives should design flexible organizational structure and administration system to suit the conditions of women members participating in cooperatives so as to improve their leadership performance.
Keywords: Cooperatives, Governance, women leadership
