The main purpose of the study was to assess women’s participation and point out the main challenges that hinder women’s participation in the IFAL program of Debere Tabor city. For this study, a mixed method approach and convergent parallel design was used. 110 women adult learners, 9 facilitators, 3 IFAL experts were participant of the study. The study was conducted in 8 IFAL centers which were selected through comprehensive sampling technique. The IFAL facilitator and expert were selected purposively. The IFAL women learners were selected through simple random sampling technique. Questionnaire, semi structured interview, and document analysis were employed to gather data. The result of the study indicated that the participation level of women in IFAL program in Debere Tabor city was low in terms of class room attendance. It was also found that their participation in classroom activities was low due to frustration and lack of knowledge. On the other hand the main challenges that affect women’s participation in IFAL program were: heavy work load, lowest economic statues, the community’s negative attitude towards women education/ adult education, husband influence, family responsibility, the learning content not relating to the needs and the way of life of the learners, the learning has always focused on reading and writing, inconvenience of learning time. Based on this result, the study recommended that a serious attention has to be given to the issue and various community awareness programs should be in place. The government should involve various stakeholders to create opportunity and to facilitate working environment for the women who completed the IFAL program. For instance, the stakeholders can support women by providing skill trainings, facilitating loan service, providing seed money and working space so that they can engage in income generating activities.