Context
Ethiopia has been affected by internal conflicts that are rooted in land competition, natural resources management and historical grievances combined with the politicisation of ethnical affiliations. In 2018 and 2019, Ethiopia registered a high number of internally displaced persons (IDP), bringing the country to the attention of the international community. Displacement and conflict have been exacerbated by the quest for administrative structure and self-determination. This has negatively impacted social cohesion, eroded tolerance and created mistrust among various ethnic groups.
To counter this, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH launched the CPS-IDP programme in 2019. In 2022, the CPS-IDP started its activities with a focus on improving capacities of local government authorities and civil society organisations.
Objective
Local authorities and the civil society in Ethiopia are becoming better at transforming conflict to build peace and reintegrate former IDPs.
Approach
The project uses non-violent conflict-transformation and peacebuilding mechanisms to prevent displacement and to reintegrate internally displaced persons. It builds the capabilities of partners and relevant government institutions and seconds national peace experts to partner civil society organisations (CSOs). The programme also promotes peace dialogues among community elders, religious leaders, women and youth associations, peace committees and local leaders to build trust and improve social cohesion.