LPI, Partners Kick Off New Project aimed at Boosting CSO Capacity for Peace

February 27, 2023, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: The Life & Peace institute (LPI), partnering with the Ethiopian Institute of Peace (EIP), and the Inter-Africa Group (IAG) launched the ‘Civil Society Capacity Strengthening for Peace (CS4P)’ project today at a workshop held in the Ethiopian capital.

The 18-month, one million Euro project is fully funded by the European Union and its overall goal is to enhance the role of Ethiopian peacebuilding civil society organisations in dialogue and reconciliation efforts at national, regional and community levels.

Through the collaborative actions of the implementing partners, the project stives to strengthen the capacities of peacebuilding CSOs in Ethiopia to take collective action towards identified peace priorities. Furthermore, through a successful implementation of the project, emerging peacebuilding CSOs will improve their capacities to implement innovative peacebuilding initiatives and contribute to knowledge and learning for the Ethiopia peacebuilding sector.

Speaking at the launching event, Tamiru Lega, Ethiopia Country Programme Manager for LPI said “As the space for CSOs is expanding in Ethiopia, emerging and nascent organisations are coming forward. We are supporting such CSOs and hope to increase their contribution in the sector. The project we are launching today will enable us to achieve that.” Tamiru also commended the partnership with EIP and IAG, where it will be crucial in enhancing the capacity of emerging CSOs who will benefit from the project.

His comments were echoed by Kassahun Abate, representing EIP, who said “we have an extensive experience in providing trainings and capacity building for emerging CSOs including peacebuilding and conflict transformation.”

Tamirat Kebede, Executive Director of IAG, also underscored his organization has an extensive experience in identifying gaps in the capacities of emerging CSOs and designing innovative interventions to enable newer CSOs meet different challenges.

Drawing roughly 30 participants, the launching workshop highlighted an overview of the project and created awareness. Implementing partners shared their experiences, bolestering further their collaborative relationship with various stakeholders during the workshop.

LPI is an international organisation that supports and promotes non-violent approaches to conflict transformation through a combination of research and actions that entail the strengthening of existing local capacities and enhancing preconditions for peace building.