Ethiopia Program

Strengthening Federal Governance & Pluralism in Ethiopia is a 5-year project funded by Global Affairs Canada. The project aims to achieve a stronger, more responsive federal system of governance for Ethiopian men and women. The project was conceived and designed in 2017-18 when the country had been going through significant turmoil and widespread protests, which culminated in the election of Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister. The PM ushered in a series of major democratic reforms that were quickly accompanied by serious new challenges and conflicts over the future direction of the country. Federal governance issues are, though not alone, central to these debates and conflicts.

The project has continued to deliver training, advice, and dialogue platforms on the subjects of intergovernmental relations, fiscal federalism, and constitutional awareness as means to mitigate conflict and help build capacities for inclusive good governance as a basis for peace and development. At time of writing (January 2022) the large-scale conflict in Northern Ethiopia appears to be entering a delicate but promising phase of negotiation and the country is preparing for a significant National Dialogue, for which the Forum, under this project and others, is well placed to support.

The Forum works with a wide range of Ethiopian stakeholders in federal, regional and local government, as well as media, political parties and civil society. The lead partner is the House of Federation, the Ethiopian parliament’s second chamber.  Gender equality is addressed in all project activities and outputs through specially devised mainstreaming tools and processes, as well as targeted activities for involving women and girls, to ensure their specific needs and interests are included.