Ongoing Projects
Ongoing
Enabling Local Ingenuity through Catch-up and Life Skills for Young Girls in War-Affected Tigray (MALALA Project)
This project represents a concerted effort to draw from prior experiences and confront the deficiencies in educational access for girls impacted by crises in Ethiopia. Through a comprehensive strategy that intertwines safety measures, robust community involvement, and direct educational services, our primary objective is to bestow empowerment upon vulnerable girls. Beyond merely facilitating education, our ambition is to instill a sense of hope, equip them with essential skills, and open doors to a multitude of opportunities that pave the way for a brighter and more promising future. The holistic nature of our approach aims not only to provide academic learning but also to create an environment conducive to their overall well-being, resilience, and active participation within their communities. By fostering this holistic empowerment, we aspire to cultivate a generation of girls who are not only educated but also confident, resilient, and capable of contributing positively to their societies despite the adversities they have faced.
AIFF
The Addis International Film Festival is an annual event organized by Initiative Africa. It is a unique initiative seeking to use the power of documentaries and short films to support innovative ways of creating awareness of social issues. Every year AIFF showcases films made by a diverse group of both seasoned and emerging filmmakers who have documented information essential for analyzing issues that affect society.
Our Completed Projects
Completed project
Business For Peace
The Business for Peace project engaged Ethiopia’s private sector as an active partner in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and national dialogue. Through fellowships, executive trainings, and public–private consultations, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and corporate executives gained skills in conflict analysis, leadership for peace, corporate social responsibility, and community engagement.
Key activities included the first Business for Peace Fellowship, regional field visits to post-conflict areas, capacity-building workshops with chambers of commerce, and partnerships with the Ministry of Peace, the National Dialogue Commission, and civil society. The project also promoted women’s participation in peace-focused entrepreneurship and launched media platforms to encourage peace-centered public discourse.
Completed project
EMEA
The Empowering Marginal Economic Actors through Policy Reform from the Bottom Up (EMEA) project (2019–2023), implemented by CIPE, Initiative Africa, and PACCI with Sida funding, strengthened the capacity of Business Membership Organizations (BMOs), SMEs, and marginalized economic actors—particularly women—to participate in economic development, recover from COVID-19 and conflict impacts, and engage in policy reform. Key achievements include providing $210,000 in revolving loans to 1,063 entrepreneurs, creating over 2,650 jobs, formalizing 378 informal businesses, and enabling policy changes that improved access to finance. Through the Innovative Grant Fund, 56 BMOs introduced 81 new services, recruited over 175,000 members, and improved advocacy capacity, leading to tangible regulatory reforms and sustained public-private dialogue. The project contributed to women’s economic empowerment, improved BMO service delivery, and influenced national and regional policy for inclusive, sustainable economic growth.
ACTIVE CITIZEN
Completed project
In July 2012, Initiative Africa (IA) and the British Council (BC) planned to hatch the next ECO -SCHOOLS LEADERS i.e.; schools committed to Environmental Education (EE). The proposed project entitled “Improve Environmental Leadership and Active participation of Young Conservationists through Active Citizens Program in Amhara, SNNPR and Addis Ababa selected Secondary and Preparatory Schools” was hosted by Simachew Alemu Limat Foundation (SALF) – Bahir Dar, Center of Concern (COC) – Hawassa and Addis Ababa Youth Associations (AAYA) – Addis Ababa.
The project facilitated enriched educational and cultural exchanges that enhance learning about issues connected to the environment and to give participants an experience that lasts a lifetime.
Making Change Happen
Completed project
The Making Change Happen: Gender Equality (MCH) project aimed to advance women’s participation, leadership, and decision-making in Ethiopia while combating gender-based violence. Working across six regions, the project addressed gender equality in workplaces, schools, communities, media, and higher education.
Key achievements include:
Training 384 gender officers and supporting private/public institutions to implement gender equality plans.
Introducing and scaling the School Violence Index (SVI) to 92 schools nationwide, reducing reported school violence and increasing parental engagement.
Enhancing adolescent sexual and reproductive health education and supporting gender/health clubs.
Partnering with media to promote gender-sensitive reporting and highlight female role models.
Delivering civic education programs that engaged thousands of students and first-time voters.
Despite challenges from COVID-19 and regional conflicts, the project achieved significant impact, fostering systemic change, improving gender equality awareness, and establishing sustainable community and institutional mechanisms.
Empowering Young Girls
Completed project
The Empowering Young Girls – Building Communities project (2014–2017), implemented by Initiative Africa with Embassy of Sweden support, aimed to improve access to quality education, create safer and more equitable school environments, reduce gender-based violence, and build entrepreneurial skills among disadvantaged girls in seven Ethiopian regions. Working with 19 local NGOs across 173 schools, the project reached over 119,000 beneficiaries (over 80% girls) through targeted interventions, including tutorial support, life skills training, Girls’ Leadership Centres, the School Violence Index, and entrepreneurship programs. Results included improved academic performance, reduced absenteeism, enhanced safety and gender equity in schools, and strengthened community involvement—contributing to lasting change in girls’ education and empowerment.