Initiative Africa and National Rehabilitation Commission Sign MOU to Enhance Rehabilitation Services and Community Reintegration Programs

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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – July 12, 2024 – Initiative Africa (IA) and the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a range of projects designed to improve rehabilitation services and support community reintegration programs across Ethiopia. The signing ceremony, held at the NRC headquarters, marked a significant step towards strengthening the partnership between the two organizations in their shared mission of promoting inclusive development and sustainable growth.

Under Article 2 of the MOU, IA, and NRC will undertake several joint duties and responsibilities. These include developing a comprehensive understanding of the benefits they can achieve through partnership, testing cooperation and coordination between their programs, and planning various discussions focused on business integration. The collaboration also aims to provide capacity-building support to the NRC’s peace-building efforts and work together to secure financial support for joint ventures and projects that can transform research into innovative solutions.

The relationship between IA and NRC, will involve detailed procedures for joint projects, regular bilateral meetings to monitor project implementation, and the creation of an independent management and control system for each project. Both parties will assist each other in fulfilling their obligations under the MOU, with strategies, priorities, and opportunities for resource sharing and knowledge transfer being key components of their cooperation. Regular forums, workshops, and networking meetings will be organized to facilitate this collaboration and assess the benefits of their joint efforts.

This partnership aligns with IA’s commitment to fostering social and economic inclusion and NRC’s mandate to provide effective rehabilitation services nationwide. By leveraging their combined expertise and resources, both organizations aim to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all Ethiopians, particularly those undergoing rehabilitation. The MOU is expected to pave the way for impactful initiatives that will contribute to the overall well-being and empowerment of communities across the country.

Enabling Local Ingenuity Through Catch-up and Life Skills for Young Girls in War-Affected Central and Northwestern Tigray

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Axum, Ethiopia – July 7, 2024 – Initiative Africa (IA) has officially launched a project titled “Enabling Local Ingenuity through Catch-up and Life Skills for Young Girls in War-Affected Tigray.” Funded by the Malala Fund, this three-year initiative aims to address the critical educational and psychosocial needs of young girls impacted by the conflict in the Tigray region.

The launch event in Axum brought together key stakeholders, including education officials and representatives from Initiative Africa. The program began with opening remarks from a Tigray Region Education Bureau head, who emphasized the urgent need for accelerated learning programs (ALPs) to support young girls affected by the ongoing crisis. An introduction to Initiative Africa followed, along with a presentation on the project’s objectives and implementation strategies.

The project will engage 24 schools and reach 1,000 students across Tigray. It includes community-based and accelerated learning programs, basic literacy and numeracy training, life skills development, vocational training, and crucial mental health support. The initiative also advocates for policy changes that prioritize girls’ secondary education as a national priority. A formal agreement was signed on May 12, 2024, between Initiative Africa and the Tigray Regional Education Bureau, solidifying IA’s legal capacity to implement the project in the region.

During the event, participants engaged in a Q&A session, offering valuable suggestions and feedback on the ALP program. They highlighted the urgent need for school feeding programs, support for families, and infrastructure repairs due to the extensive damage caused by the conflict. Community engagement and economic support for mothers were also identified as critical factors for the project’s success.

The event concluded with small group planning sessions and closing remarks, followed by discussions involving school directors. These discussions provided insights into the challenges and opportunities for implementing the ALP program, including the need for teacher training, curriculum flexibility, and addressing psychosocial barriers.

Key recommendations from the workshop included comprehensive psychosocial support for children, families, and teachers, implementing an accelerated learning model tailored to the needs of war-affected students, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to develop effective educational recovery strategies.

The launch of this project marks a significant step towards rebuilding the education system in Tigray and empowering a generation of young girls with the skills and knowledge they need to contribute to their communities and beyond. Initiative Africa and the Malala Fund are committed to ensuring that these girls receive the support they need to overcome the challenges posed by the conflict and achieve their full potential.

Axum Airport Reopens, Signaling Hope for Economic Growth

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Ethiopia – June 9, 2024 – The recent reopening of Axum Airport represents a significant turning point for the region, promising renewed economic opportunities and growth. The airport, which had been closed due to the conflict in Tigray, left a profound impact on the socio-economic fabric of the area, disrupting trade, tourism, and livelihoods. However, with its reopening, the region is poised for a revitalization.

The closure of Axum Airport had far-reaching consequences, particularly for local businesses reliant on tourism and trade. Hotels, restaurants, and small enterprises faced unprecedented challenges as the flow of tourists dwindled.

In the lead-up to the reopening, Initiative Africa (IA), in collaboration with the Center for International Private Enterprises (CIPE), organized a pivotal conference in Axum on October 2, 2023, under the theme of ‘Revitalizing Axum’s Tourism’. This gathering brought together experts, stakeholders, and community leaders to explore strategies for leveraging the airport’s revival to stimulate economic growth. This workshop underscored the importance of the reopening of the Airport to revive the economy of Axum.

The reopening of Axum Airport symbolizes hope and resilience for the residents of Axum and Ethiopia. It represents a significant step towards economic recovery and progress. As the region prepares to welcome travelers and cargo once again, the positive impacts on the local and national economy are anticipated.

While the reopening of Axum Airport is a milestone worth celebrating, its full potential will unfold gradually over time. As flights resume and activities at the airport pick up pace, the region can look forward to a brighter future.

Initiative Africa and Tigray Authorities Partner to Launch Accelerated Education for War-Affected Students: Signing Ceremony Marks Milestone in Educational Initiative

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Mekele, May 12, 2016 – In a significant move to address the educational disruption caused by the conflict in the Tigray region, Initiative Africa has signed a three-year project agreement aimed at providing accelerated education to students who have fallen behind, particularly girls. The signing ceremony took place on May 12, 2016, in Mekele.

The project, funded by the Malala Fund, focuses on implementing community-wide accelerated education and teacher training programs, targeting 1,000 students aged 9 to 15. These students, affected by the war, will not only receive education but also life and skills training, crucial for their personal and professional development. The initiative spans six districts in the central and northwestern Tigray zones, reflecting a broad geographical reach.

Representatives from the Regional Education Office and the Planning Finance and Aid Coordination Office attended the ceremony, where they expressed their strong support for the project. They recognized Initiative Africa’s efforts to provide much-needed educational opportunities to young women and boys in the region.

The project agreement marks a collaborative effort between Initiative Africa, the Malala Fund, and regional authorities, emphasizing a unified approach to tackling educational setbacks caused by the conflict. Through this partnership, the project aims to create a sustainable impact, empowering war-affected youth with the tools they need to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their communities.

As the project unfolds, it promises to bring hope and educational opportunities to those who need them most, fostering resilience and future prosperity in the Tigray region.

በመቀሌ የፕሮጀክት ስምምነት ፊርማ ተካሄደ

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በሲቪል ማህበረሰብ ድርጅቶች ባለስልጣን የተመዘገበው ኢንሼቲቭ አፍሪካ ከማላላ ፈንድ በተገኘው የገንዘብ ድጋፍ በትግራይ ክልል በጦርነቱ ምክንያት  በትምህርት ወደ ኋላ የቀሩ ተማሪዎች በተለይም ልጃገረዶችን የተፋጠነ ትምህርት እንዲያገኙ የማስቻል የ3 ዓመት የፕሮጀክት ስምምነት ፊርማ ስነስርአት ግንቦት 12 ቀን 2016 ዓ.ም በመቀሌ ከተማ ተካሄደ።

ከፕሮጀክቱ ዋነኛ ተግባራት መካከል እድሚያቸው ከ9 እስከ 15  አመት ለሚሆኑ 1000 ተማሪዎች በማህበረሰብ አቀፍ የተፋጠነ የትምህርትና የመምህራን ስልጠና መርሀ-ግብሮች መተግበር እንዲሁም የህይወትና ክህሎት  ስልጠና እንዲያገኙ ማስቻል ሲሆን ፕሮጀክቱ የሚተገበረው በማዐከላዊና በሰሜን ምዕራብ ትግራይ ዞኖች ባሉ 6 ወረዳዎች ነው።

የፕረጀክት ስምምነት ፊርማው የተካሄደው ኢኒሺዬቲቭ አፍሪካ ከክልሉ ትምህርት ቢሮ እና  እቅድ ፋይናንስና እርዳታ ማስተባበሪያ  ቢሮ ጋር ነው።

በፊርማ ስነ-ስርአቱ ላይ የተገኙት ሁለቱም የሴክትር መስሪያ ቤቶች ተወካዮች ኢንሼቲቭ አፍሪካ በክልሉ በጦርነት የተጎዱ ወጣት ሴቶችና ወንድ ልጆች በተፋጠነ ትምህርት ተጠቃሚ የሚያደርግ ፕሮጀክት ለመተግበር በመንቀሳቀስ ላይ መሆኑ የሚያስመሰግነው ነው ካሉ በኋላ ፕሮጀክቱ ስኬታማ እንዲሆን አስፈላጊውን ትብብር ሁሉ እንደሚያደርጉ ቃል ገብተዋል።   

Empowering Female Potters: A Revival through Skill Development in Tigray

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In an ambitious effort to empower women and rejuvenate a heritage craft, Initiative Africa, in collaboration with the Tigray and Axum Tourism Offices, has launched a pivotal skill development training program for female potters in the Tigray region. This initiative is a significant part of Initiative Africa’s “Business for Peace” project, which seeks to mitigate the impact of recent conflicts on local industries. Trainees, including Haimanot Abrha from Hauzen and Atsede G/Yohannes from Adwa, have applauded the program for enhancing their pottery skills and fostering a vibrant exchange of cultural and artistic experiences across the region.

The training has emerged as a beacon of hope for participants like Trhas G/Egziabher from Yeha, who, along with her fellow artisans, aspires to resume work and overcome the severe challenges posed by the loss of workspace and the dissolution of their support structures. These women, whose livelihoods have been drastically affected by external crises, view the program as an essential step towards revitalizing their craft and regaining their economic independence. The initiative has also facilitated a critical dialogue between the artisans and government officials, paving the way for potential solutions to their predicaments.

Responding to the artisans’ needs, Mr. Gebre, head of the Axum Tourism Office, and Mr. Dawit from the Tigray Tourism Bureau have vowed to take concrete steps to assist these women. Their commitments include reorganizing pottery associations in the seven districts and liaising with governmental bodies to find alternative locations for work and sales. These actions reflect a broader commitment to addressing the systemic issues facing these artisans, demonstrating the potential for targeted skill development programs to catalyze community-wide economic recovery and empowerment.

Through the lens of Initiative Africa’s “Business for Peace” project, this training program is a testament to the power of combining cultural preservation with economic empowerment. By focusing on the female potters of Tigray, the initiative not only aims to protect an invaluable aspect of the region’s heritage but also to lay the groundwork for sustainable peace and prosperity in the aftermath of adversity. This effort marks a promising step towards the revival of the pottery industry in Tigray, offering a model for how targeted interventions can rebuild communities and restore hope.

Business for Peace: Building Business Engagement in the Upcoming National Dialogue

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On April 5, 2024, at the Cassiopeia Hotel, regional chambers of commerce came together for the “Business for Peace” event, aimed at enhancing the involvement of the business sector in Ethiopia’s national dialogue. The day began with IA’s project manager delivering the opening remarks, followed by a presentation from the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission that set the context for the discussions. This meeting provided a platform for members of regional chambers to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities for businesses in contributing to the country’s peace and economic stability.

Discussions during the event focused on several pressing issues, including the need for ethnic coexistence, the impact of VAT on small traders, the role of media in promoting informed public discourse, and the critical importance of creating job opportunities. Participants advocated for better governance, a more conducive environment for investment, and the inclusion of women in the national dialogue process. These discussions highlighted the complex relationship between peace, economic stability, and governance, reflecting on how regional chambers can play a role in these areas.

In response to the issues raised, the Dialogue Commission pointed to the importance of open dialogue in addressing fear and insecurity, the need for inclusive representation in the national dialogue, and assured the audience of the commission’s autonomy from political influences. The event underscored the importance of women’s participation, the necessity for collective action, and the role of media in supporting peacebuilding efforts.

The “Business for Peace” gathering marked an occasion for regional chambers to consider their part in Ethiopia’s broader dialogue on peace and economic recovery. While not without its challenges, the event provided a moment for reflection on the potential collective action and responsibility in navigating toward a more stable and prosperous future.

የኢኒሺየቲቭ አፍሪካ ማህበር አመታዊ ጠቅላላ ጉባኤ አካሄደ

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ከሲቪል ማህበረሰብ ድርጅቶች አንዱ የሆነው ኢኒሺየቲቭ አፍሪካ ማህበር አመታዊ ጠቅላላ ጉኤውን በካሶፒያ ሆቴል የመሰብሰቢያ አዳራሽ አካሄደ፡፡

ማህበሩ እ.ኤ.አ በ2023 ካከናወናቸው ተግባራት መካከል በኢኖቬቲቭ ግራንት ፈንድ በግሉ ዘርፍ የተሰማሩት የንግድ ዘርፍ ማህበራት እና የቢዝነስ ድርጅቶች አባላትን ማብቃት እንዲሁም ንግድ ለሰላምና ልማት እና ንቁ ዜጋ የወጣቶች በጎ ፈቃድ አገልግሎት በተጨማሪም 17ኛ አዲስ አለም አቀፍ የፊልም ፌስቲቫል ፕሮግራሞች ተጠቃሽ ናቸው፡፡ ማህበሩ በዚሁ ዓመት በዋነኛነት ካጋጠሙት ችግሮች መካከል ለተለያዩ ለጋሾች ያቀረባቸው የድጋፍ ጥያቄዎች አዎንታዊ ምላሽ አለማግኘቱ ነው ተብሏል፡፡ 

ማህበሩ እ.ኤ.አ በ2024 ካቀዳቸው ስራዎች መካከል ንግድ ለሰላምና ልማት፣ በብሔራዊ ደረጃ የበጎ ፈቃደኞች አገልግሎት እና በጦርነት ምክንያት በትምህርት ወደኋላ የቀሩ ልጃገረዶች የተፋጠነ ትምህርት እንዲያገኙ ማስቻል ፕሮግራሞችና 18ኛው አዲስ አለም አቀፍ ፊልም ፌሰቲቫልን ማካሄድ እንደሆነ ለመረዳት ተችሏል፡፡

ሌላው በጉባኤው ላይ የቀረበው የማህበሩ እ.ኤ.አ የ2023 የኦዲት ሪፖርት በውጭ ኦዲተር አማካኝነት ሲሆን ማህበሩ በዚህ አመት ከለጋሾች ያገኘውን ድጋፍ 87 በመቶ ለፕሮግራም 13በመቶውን ደግሞ ለአስተዳደራዊ ወጪ መዋሉን በግልጽ ተብራርቷል፡፡ በዚህም አሉ የውጭ ኦዲተሩ ማህበሩ ያለፈው አመት የሥራ ክንውኑ የአለምና የሀገር አቀፍ የፋይናንስና የአስተዳደር ደንብና ስርዓት ጠብቆ ማከናወኑ ነው ሲሉ ገልጸዋል፡፡

የማህበሩ የጠቅላላ ጉባኤ አባላትም የቀረበላቸው የሥራ ክንውንና የኦዲት ሪፖርት እንዲሁም የዚህ አመት የሥራ እቅድ ላይ ተወያይተው ሁሉንም ሪፖርቶች በሙሉ ድምጽ አጽድቀዋል፡፡

የሲቪል ማህበረሰብ ድርጅቶች ባለሥልጣንን ለማቋቋም በወጣው አዋጅ መሰረት ኢኒሺየቲቭ አፍሪካ ጊዜውን ጠብቆ አመታዊ ሪፖርቶችን እና እቅዶችን እንዲሁም ደጋፊ መረጃዎችን አሟልቶ ማቅረቡን የባለስልጣኑ መ/ቤት ማረጋገጫ መስጠቱ ታውቋል፡፡    

Initiative Africa Awarded Malala Grant to Empower Female Students in Conflict-Affected Areas

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Initiative Africa, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to empowering vulnerable youth, has recently received a substantial boost in its efforts to support young women affected by conflict. The organization has been awarded a prestigious Malala grant totaling $300,000 as part of its enrollment in the Education Champion Network. This grant is set to significantly enhance Initiative Africa’s project aimed at helping female students who have been impacted by conflict to regain access to education and develop essential skills for future success.

The project, spearheaded by Initiative Africa, focuses on implementing a comprehensive Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) coupled with a Life Skills program. This innovative approach is designed to address the unique challenges faced by female students who have been displaced or otherwise affected by conflict. By providing access to education and essential life skills training, Initiative Africa aims to empower these individuals to rebuild their lives and pursue opportunities for personal and professional growth.

The significance of this grant cannot be overstated, as it represents a vital step forward in Initiative Africa’s mission to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable youth. With the support of the Malala grant, the organization will be able to expand its reach and provide critical resources to a greater number of young female students in need.

Crucially, the success of Initiative Africa’s project in gaining the fund has been further facilitated by the invaluable assistance of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (sida). Through its constant support for the Business for Peace project, sida has played a pivotal role in helping Initiative Africa sharpen its expertise in the field of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. By leveraging sida’s support, Initiative Africa has been able to strengthen its programs and maximize its impact on the ground.

Exploring the Vital Link Between Business and Peace: Initiative Africa and Addis Ababa University Host Dynamic Panel Discussion

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On February 22, Initiative Africa, in collaboration with Addis Ababa University, hosted a panel discussion on the critical link between business and peace. This event, a part of the Business for Peace project, aimed to explore the role of commerce in fostering peace. Dr. Yohannes Adigeh initiated the discussion with a welcoming address, followed by presentations from esteemed speakers Dr. Tilahun Bejitual, Dr. Desalegn Amsalu, and Ato Mesfin Messela.

Under the skilled moderation of Dr. Samuel Tefera, the discussion unfolded seamlessly, with each speaker offering nuanced perspectives and practical insights. From exploring how businesses can foster stability within communities to examining the role of economic development in conflict resolution, the dialogue was rich and diverse. Attendees were actively engaged, with a robust question and answer session allowing for further exploration of key themes and ideas.

During the panel discussion, the historical connection between business and peace in Ethiopia was highlighted. The panel emphasized how previous trades and exchanges have shown the pivotal role of the private sector in fostering peace and security. Business activities have not only contributed to economic development but also played a significant role in promoting stability and social cohesion. The discussion highlighted the interdependence between business interests and peace outcomes, emphasizing that a conducive environment for business operations is essential for maintaining peace, while peace, in turn, creates favorable conditions for business growth and investment. Furthermore, panelists stressed the importance of a collaborative approach among the private sector, government, and civil society in promoting peace and security. They emphasized the need for dialogue, cooperation, and partnership to address underlying causes of conflict and build sustainable peace.

The closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Adigeh and a representative from Initiative Africa. They underscored the significance of the discussions held and reiterated the commitment of both organizations to advancing peace through collaborative efforts and knowledge-sharing. This event serves as a testament to the potential for businesses to play a constructive role in promoting societal stability and sustainable development.