Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa – about 120 million people inhabiting the country, with roughly 70 percent of them under the age of 29.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, following protests in many parts of the country. His domestic reforms coupled with the rapprochement with Eritrea made him the recipient of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.
However, since the Tigray war in November 2020, Ethiopia’s political and security situation has continued to deteriorate with millions of citizens displaced from their homes, thousands killed and growing economic challenges. The continued conflict is threatening the perspective of sustainable peace and democratic gains achieved thus far.
Active in Ethiopia since 2019, Interpeace has signed MoU with Ministry of Peace (MoP) and currently works on two projects: To support the reform of the police - one of the main components of the Ethiopian Government’s ‘Peace Policy and Strategy Framework’ - and work on an Ethiopian Peace Index.
Interpeace aims to implement activities aimed at advancing sustainable peace in the country and strengthening the Ministry of Peace’s capacity to use conflict sensitive and peace responsive approaches in policy development.
In 2024, Ethiopia’s security landscape was marked by significant challenges. Intense clashes and political tensions between the state, opposition parties, and militia forces led to widespread displacement, humanitarian crises, and heightened instability across the country.
In Ethiopia, Interpeace partners with Cuso International on a project to ensure that young women can continue their education. This has enhanced university access for up to 1,000 disadvantaged schoolgirls in Assosa and Bambasi districts. Employing a holistic, multi-sectoral approach, the project seeks to eliminate barriers to girls’ education by fostering community and familial support for girls’ enrolment in formal education, enhancing academic performance, leadership skills, and autonomy among girls, and improving governance and delivery of gender-equitable education at the woreda, zone, and regional levels. Interpeace and its partners provide MHPSS support to participating high school students, their families, and broader communities.
