Providing pathways to a more democratic and stable Ethiopia and supporting peaceful and inclusive national consensus processes.
WHY USAID/OTI IS IN ETHIOPIA
Nearly two years after the signing of the historic Cessation of Hostilities Agreement that ended the war in the north, Ethiopia’s stability hangs in the balance. The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process is lagging; the issue of the disputed territories remains unresolved; and many communities in the north have yet to recover from the devastating impacts of war. Furthermore, conflict has surged in Amhara and two rounds of talks aimed at bringing peace to Oromia have failed. Without an end to widespread conflict and inter-communal tensions in these areas, which foster instability and division, efforts to forge a national peace will be incomplete and ineffective. In this evolving context, the U.S. seeks to support pathways to a more democratic and stable Ethiopia.
USAID/OTI’S ROLE IN ETHIOPIA
In 2019, OTI launched its program in Ethiopia to support a peaceful and inclusive political transition. Presently, OTI’s focus is on the regional states of Oromia, Amhara, and Tigray where the goal is to advance the conditions necessary for peace processes to take root and succeed in local communities. OTI leverages its strong relationships with key actors and local partners to design and implement activities at the community level that:
- Improve community cohesion; and
- Limit the impact of conflict where armed groups remain active.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- OTI is working to reduce political polarization and assist communities in coping with the impacts of conflict in Amhara. Activities include training community leaders on conflict resolution and trauma-informed care and using cultural and community events to create opportunities for people to safely come together and engage constructively.
- In Tigray, OTI is supporting communities to recover from conflict and improve their ability to reintegrate ex-combatants when the DDR process begins. Activities are designed to help people heal from conflict-related trauma and help communities better manage conflict in order to mitigate community tension when ex-combatants return. OTI has also rehabilitated spaces where communities meet and engage constructively, such as libraries, youth centers, and city parks. Repairing these assets strengthens the ability of communities to provide services to ex-combatants and facilitates social interaction between community members and ex-combatants.
- OTI supported inter-religious groups in Oromia to engage in peace processes and networking. OTI trained community leaders in Oromia to promote stabilization and community support for peacebuilding. These trainings aim to strengthen community cohesion and counter community-level conflict.