Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a strategic focus for developing International Alert programming, given its intersection of conflict, governance, and natural resource management issues.
Since 2021, Alert has implemented interventions on the water, peace and security nexus; responsible business conduct in conflict-affected contexts; and the intersection of climate, conflict and gender equality.
Our programming is based on the understanding that peacebuilding is multifaceted in terms of the themes and issues that are addressed; multi-track, including community-based organisations, civil society, local and national authorities, international policy-makers, private sector, research institutions and diplomats; transcending borders; and inclusive, involving communities across conflict lines and other social, cultural, political, gender, and generational boundaries.
Through capacity development, accompaniment, and partnerships, we help civil society and government advance peacebuilding. We focus on influencing relevant actors to adopt gender-sensitive and human-centred approaches to programming. We also work with key actors on conflict-sensitive programming by providing technical support on conflict-sensitive business practice through analysis and guidance for investors in various sectors and training government actors on conflict sensitivity in the design and implementation of initiatives.
Conflict context
Ethiopia is an economic giant within the Horn of Africa region and hosts several international institutions, most notably the African Union. The 2018 general elections promised a new direction for the country with the opening of political space, democratisation, and economic reform. However, the country has seen high levels of displacement-driven conflict, including the Tigray crisis in late 2020. Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) indicate that over 230 incidents of civilian targeting were reported in Ethiopia during the first six months of 2022, resulting in more than 1,220 fatalities, and that over 810 of these fatalities (66%) occurred in Oromia.
Land represents a key driver of conflict in the country. Questions over who land ‘belongs’ to have been exacerbated by large-scale land acquisitions for private investment, mainly where this involves dispossession and/or displacement. These are compounded by concerns of environmental impact (particularly on water resources) and who has access to jobs and opportunities. Competing claims of entitlement and ownership over natural resources and unaddressed grievances rooted in decades of exclusion and violence associated with natural resource exploration have also increased the conflict potential.
Despite the challenges, there are real opportunities for strengthening social cohesion and reducing conflicts through better coordination between various actors. Many partners are working in the region, and significant efforts are needed to support peace processes and collaborate with local partners.
