Center and Periphery

In a number of African nations, including Ethiopia, there is a significant governance gap between the central government and the outlying areas, with the latter frequently overlooked or considered ungoverned due to security concerns or inaccessibility stemming from insufficient infrastructure. These peripheral areas often endure compounded challenges such as environmental degradation, droughts exacerbated by climate change, and disputes over limited resources like grazing grounds and water, which, along with political exclusion, precipitate recurrent hardships and conflicts among communities.

This pattern of oversight is similarly discernible in the realm of transitional justice and dialogue, where the process is inclined to favour the participation of communities that are more organized and situated closer to the epicentres of power, neglecting those in remote areas, including pastoralist communities and border regions. The situation is further strained by the absence or reluctance of local and international CSOs to engage with these underserved communities.

ACT is dedicated to mitigating this governance disparity by ensuring that the marginalized voices from the periphery and indigenous groups are incorporated into the peacebuilding process. The organization will seek to establish strategic partnerships with development-focused and other non-governmental organizations that maintain a grassroots presence in these communities. Through such collaborations, ACT aims to elevate the voices and engagement of typically overlooked groups, like pastoralists and residents of border areas, within the processes of transitional justice and dialogue.