Life & Peace Institute

As the current “Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Ethiopia” programme approaches its conclusion at the end of this year, our Ethiopia Programme team and key partners came together last week for a three-day programme design workshop to reflect on achievements and lessons learned from the existing programme, while examining evolving contextual dynamics, peacebuilding priorities, and Ethiopia’s peacebuilding landscape to help shape the next phase of the programme. The workshop generated important reflections and identified emerging peacebuilding thematic areas, which will be further enriched through subsequent discussions and validation exercises. It also provided a valuable opportunity for LPI and its partners to further develop a shared vision for more impactful and context-responsive peacebuilding in Ethiopia.

Building on the rich exchanges and reflections from DAY ONE, the TJ&R Cross-Cohort Learning & Knowledge Sharing Workshop concluded in Addis Ababa with a renewed commitment to regional collaboration and collective action on Transitional Justice & Reconciliation across the Horn of Africa.
Over the two-day workshop, civil society representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda shared experiences, practical lessons, and emerging priorities for advancing inclusive, victim- and community-centred TJ&R processes. Discussions also highlighted the importance of strengthening regional solidarity, amplifying affected communities’ voices, and fostering sustained engagement within national, regional, and global policy spaces.
A key milestone of the workshop was the formation of an interim gender balanced Horn of Africa Civil Society Platform on TJ&R, a collective initiative aimed at strengthening regional coordination, knowledge sharing, joint advocacy, and collaboration among civil society actors working on TJ&R issues across the region.

DAY ONE of the TJ&R Cross-Cohort Learning & Knowledge Sharing Workshop brought together civil society representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda to exchange experiences and reflect on the opportunities and challenges shaping TJ&R efforts across the HoA.
Through panel discussions, plenary exchanges, and collaborative dialogue sessions, participants underscored the importance of TJ&R issues and explored approaches to strengthening inclusive and community-driven TJ&R processes, enhancing regional cooperation, and amplifying the voices of affected communities within national, regional and global policy spaces.

Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa

The HARP Regional Context Analysis research, endorsed by IGAD member states in April 2026, was presented for the first time following endorsement to Sida partners and EU stakeholders in Addis Ababa today. Participants engaged further with the findings and shared key insights to inform the HARP 3.0 implementation.

Civil society actors, peacebuilding practitioners, and transitional justice experts from across the Horn of Africa will convene in Addis Ababa on 21–22 May 2026 for the Cross-Cohort Learning and Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation.
The regional workshop will create a platform for dialogue, peer learning, and collaboration among CSOs and CBOs working to advance inclusive, victim-centred, and context-responsive TJ&R processes across the region. Discussions will also contribute toward the operationalisation of a Regional Civil Society Platform on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation.

The initiative is jointly organised by the Life & Peace Institute, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, and Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation. Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa

The recent reopening of the Forole Livestock Market in Moyale, Kenya on 11 May 2026 marks a major milestone in restoring livelihoods, strengthening cross-border trade, and promoting peaceful coexistence along the Forole–Magado corridor.

Closed since the 2022 election-related conflict and recurring inter-community clashes, the market’s reopening reflects the impact of sustained peacebuilding, dialogue, and security coordination efforts supported through our Mobility and Movement Project in collaboration with elders, peace committees, security actors, and local communities.

With the market now operating every Monday, communities can once again access a safer and more organized trading environment, helping revive household incomes, strengthen social cohesion, and improve accountability in livestock trade.

A strong reminder that peacebuilding works best when it restores both trust and livelihoods.

European Union in Kenya

The Life & Peace Institute together with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Ethiopia Office, convened a high-level dialogue on “Common African Foreign Policy for a Unified Global Voice in a Changing Global Order” in Addis Ababa.

The discussion brought together diplomats, policymakers, youth representatives, civil society leaders, and governance experts to reflect on the African Union’s institutional reform process and the growing momentum toward a more coordinated African foreign policy framework. Panelists explored how a unified African policy can strengthen the continent’s position in an evolving global order, while also examining the important role of youth, women, and civil society in shaping and advancing the proposed policy direction. The dialogue further assessed key opportunities and implementation challenges and generated practical recommendations for advancing a stronger and more coherent global African position.

As global dynamics continue to shift, conversations around a common African foreign policy remain central to strengthening Africa’s strategic autonomy and engagement on the global stage. Embassy of Sweden, Addis Ababa

How does Africa navigate a shifting global order? Our High-Level Diplomatic Dialogue today apprises the proposed Common African Foreign Policy. The initiative seeks to move the continent from fragmented bilateralism to a unified global power. The AU's debut in forums like the G20 shows Africa is asserting itself as an active agent, not a passive recipient.