The general objective of this study was to assess the current gender mainstreaming practices inrnselected sector bureaus in Addis Ababa. It also aimed to examine the existing opportunities tornmainstream gender issues and to explore the challenges faced by the study sectors in the process ofrngender mainstreaming practice. In order to meet these objectives, the study used qualitative researchrnmethods to explore the current gender mainstreaming practices in the study sectors. Consequently,rnpurposive sampling was used to select the informants and discussants of the study.rnThe findings showed that women are highly under represented in the two sector bureausrn(BOFED & BOE) in higher level positions except in the case of Womenâ€™s Affairs Office. Therninformants and discussants of the study who are currently working in the area of planning did notrnhave clear ideas on gender and gender mainstreaming concepts. Gender focal persons in the twornsector bureaus did not properly function their tasks due to the existence of unclear mandate and lackrnof capacity to coordinate and implement gender mainstreaming practices in their respective sectorrnbureaus. The study sector bureaus did not fully employ and use different tools and techniques forrngender mainstreaming practices. Lack of commitment on the part of decision-making bodies andrnlack of appropriate linkages between gender focal persons and Womenâ€™s Affairs Office were thernmajor challenges identified in the study. The findings also indicated that unless appropriate andrncontext specific programs and projects are designed at national level in general and at the City levelrnin Particular, the mere presence of policy and strategic documents do not make sense as far as thernissues of gender mainstreaming are concerned .Thus, in order to minimize the prevailing genderrngaps in the study sectors, the need to implement gender mainstreaming practice is second to none