Partnering for Peace in Fragile Contexts

In countries affected by recurring conflict, peace is not a parallel objective to development — it is a prerequisite. The Ethiopian Institute of Peace (EIP) has been working at this intersection for more than three decades, supporting communities across Ethiopia to prevent and resolve conflict through dialogue, mediation and locally rooted peacebuilding approaches.

EIP is also a longstanding partner of Helvetas, collaborating closely in fragile and conflict‑affected areas where competition over land, water, and other natural resources can quickly escalate into violence. Nowhere is this more evident than in Ethiopia’s Borena Zone, where EIP and Helvetas have worked together since 2023 to integrate conflict sensitivity into resilience and livelihoods programming — strengthening local institutions, engaging clan leaders, and fostering cooperation across administrative and communal boundaries.

In the interview below, Dr. Ayten Birhanie, Executive Director of EIP, reflects on what makes partnerships like ours effective in complex contexts.

How do you collaborate with Helvetas?

We work with Helvetas on the Regional Livestock Program, focusing on peacebuilding and conflict prevention. But our partnership originated in earlier phases of a Borena Natural Resource Management project, where we contributed expertise in community peace structures.

Our shared work emphasizes integrating peacebuilding into natural resource governance, recognizing that access to water and land is vital for livelihoods and a source of conflict in Borena. Together, we have established inclusive coordination platforms that unite traditional institutions, local authorities, women and youth to manage shared resources and proactively resolve disputes.

Last year we facilitated workshops and over ten intra-community peace dialogues in three woredas (districts) of Borena Zone, involving over 900 participants from 41 kebeles (the village-level government unit). These dialogues addressed disputes over grazing routes and farmland, revitalized traditional governance systems for water management, and strengthened links between village elders and the government.

What guides your partner selection process?

Our main priorities are shared goals and values. EIP look for partners whose missions align with ours, particularly in areas like peacebuilding, sustainability and community engagement. Helvetas works with partners with a strong local presence and trusted networks. EIP has established relationships with local authorities, clans and community leaders in the areas we're targeting. This relationship-building helps make our projects run more smoothly and effectively.

What lessons have you learned about fostering strong partnerships?

We have realized that strong collaboration with partners is crucial for successful project implementation and achieving our goals. Here are three specific lessons we have gleaned:

• Early and clear communication is key. We have found that openly discussing expectations, roles, and possible challenges at the outset helps avoid misunderstandings down the line.
• Flexibility improves results. It is important to be adaptable when unexpected challenges arise, such as sudden conflicts or seasonal changes, as this strengthens the partnership.
• Local ownership is vital. The best partnerships happen when local institutions like kebele administrations, traditional elders, and community members are seen as equal partners, rather than just beneficiaries.

How have you worked with partners to influence community peace initiatives and guide conflict-sensitive programming?

In every project, EIP starts by assessing the conflict context in the intended area. We did this for the Borena Zone, where we work with Helvetas, before kicking off any activities. We discovered that the resource-related conflicts there generally fall into three categories: cross-border, cross-boundary, and intragroup. We also noticed that the intensity and nature of these conflicts and their effects on the pastoral community shift over time.

Based on what we found in our assessments, EIP suggested some targeted interventions to reduce conflicts and foster peace in the community. Helvetas agreed, and together we implemented the following actions:

• Enhanced institutional capacities: We co-trained local institutions in conflict prevention, resolution, and peacebuilding.
• Strengthened collaboration among institutions: We facilitated cooperation between formal bodies (like government offices) and traditional ones (like clan elders) to help manage resource-related conflicts in the region.
• Promoted inter-clan cooperation: We engaged both the Borana and Gari clans to work together in managing and using pastures and water at the administrative boundaries.

This partnership-driven, conflict-sensitive approach helped ease tensions related to resources and contributed to a more peaceful and stable environment for the pastoral communities in the Borena Zone.

What changes would you like to see in future partnerships?

We would like to see more thorough up-front conflict assessments and joint capacity-building efforts, less focus on short-term, top-down planning, and a new approach that better links traditional institutions with formal systems while taking climate issues into account.

About the Author

Ephrem Taye is the Communications and Advocacy Expert at Helvetas Ethiopia.