Context: Ethiopia is undergoing a transition marked by conflicts, social divides, and widespread trauma, particularly affecting women and minorities. Although initial steps towards peace, dialogue, and transitional justice have begun, concerns persist regarding their inclusivity and ownership. Structural violence and discrimination continue to hinder inclusive peace efforts.
While reforms like the revised 2019 Civil Society Organisations (CSO) law have opened Ethiopia’s political and democratic space, CSOs involved in peacebuilding still face challenges, including limited resources, weak coordination, and barriers to effective collaboration.
Goal: Civil society organisations in Ethiopia have contributed to fostering inclusive dialogue and driving social change, thereby supporting efforts towards peace, justice, and the establishment of resilient institutions.
Approach: The project partners with civil society actors to foster inclusive dialogue spaces across Ethiopia. It focuses on addressing conflicts and advancing peace. Important measures include:
• Building networks among civil society groups to promote collaborative learning and collective action, partnering with six organisations across Ethopia, including Addis Ababa;
• Initiating projects focused on land rights, civic participation, women’s inclusion, trauma healing, transitional justice, and advocacy;
• Engaging national and international peace experts to guide local partners in enhancing their organisational approaches for effective peacebuilding.
By combining local expertise with collaborative learning, the project aims to ensure inclusive dialogue and lasting peace efforts.