Blog
Tigray in transition: Communities work to build peace and reconciliation

The situation in Tigray, in Ethiopia, has been marked by conflict and humanitarian crises, significantly affecting the region's stability and the lives of its people. After a two-year armed conflict (November 2020 to November 2022), efforts have been underway to rebuild trust, address humanitarian needs and foster dialogue among diverse communities.
During the 2024 International Day of Peace celebration in Mekelle, Tigray, held under the theme "Cultivating a Culture of Peace," the Deputy Head of the Tigray Interim Administration, General Taddesse Worede, emphasized the importance of protecting the region’s fragile peace. In his opening remarks, he stressed that the Pretoria Peace Agreement should serve as a foundation for maintaining peace, noting that the agreement was the outcome of tough negotiations and committed efforts to end the devastating conflict.
In support of these peacebuilding efforts, the United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed $20 million to the Sustainable Peace Activity. This five-year initiative aims to create the conditions necessary for long-term peace and development in Ethiopia by supporting stakeholders in conflict mitigation, peacebuilding efforts and addressing conflicts before they escalate.
In Tigray, USAID’s Sustainable Peace program collaborates with organizations such as the Center of Concern, Rise and Shine Women Empowerment Center, Safer Ethiopia, Nexus Ethiopia, Redeem the Generation, and Save Your Holy Land Association. The work focuses on fostering sustainable peace through resilience building, constructive dialogue, strengthening relationships among people and promoting broad support for peace at the community level.
One participant, Bethelehem Assefa, who benefited from a recent training on Community Dialogue in Southern Tigray, highlighted the impact of the capacity-building efforts. “Dialogue is something we need to practice everywhere, all the time,” she said. “Learning effective dialogue facilitation skills has helped us develop strategies to navigate complex problems and mend broken relationships between the Amhara and Tigray communities.”
Yehualashet Michael, a project coordinator for the Center of Concern (CoC), emphasized the significance of Sustainable Peace approaches for community resilience and recovery. “We are working with internally displaced persons to provide trauma healing, build the capacity of local peacebuilding institutions and empower university students to counter misinformation,” he noted.
Since its launch in April 2024, Sustainable Peace has mobilized civil society and informal peace institutions to carry out successful community-level actions. These efforts have helped rebuild people-to-people relationships, facilitate the peaceful return of internally displaced persons and engage youth and women, including university students, as champions of peace and reconciliation in the region.
"The region's path to recovery and lasting peace is not only dependent on rebuilding what was physically destroyed during the conflict, but also requires sustained and inclusive dialogue to restore relationships within and between communities," said Pact’s Lauren Oing, Chief of Party for USAID Sustainable Peace. "We are here to work with communities to create transparent opportunities for consensus-building and social cohesion, alongside efforts that build widespread commitment to peacebuilding."
As Tigray embarks on its journey toward peace and recovery, the collective efforts of local communities, international partners and organizations like USAID demonstrate the importance of sustained collaboration and dialogue. While the path ahead may be challenging, initiatives such as the Sustainable Peace Activity offer hope for healing and long-term stability. By addressing the root causes of conflict, promoting inclusivity and rebuilding trust among communities, Tigray has the opportunity to pave the way for a peaceful and prosperous future.