The Ethiopian Peacebuilding Network, established by the United Nations (UN), is a multi-stakeholder, open platform made up of non-governmental organizations, civil society, UN agencies, and development partners. The United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) says this network is a part of “supporting the Ethiopian government in taking meaningful steps to ensure young people are at the heart of peacebuilding initiatives.”
Ethiopia has a complex history of various political and ethnic conflicts, notably the Tigray War from 2020 to 2022, and the ongoing War in Amhara which began in 2023. Both of these conflicts involve regional groups challenging the central government’s authority.
Over 75 percent of Ethiopia’s population is under the age of 30, according to the UNSDG. Therefore, Ethiopian youth have “immense power” to shape the country’s future, it says.
In July 2025, the UNSDG reported that under the umbrella of the Ethiopian Peacebuilding Network, youth, peace and security networks had been established at both national and local levels, creating spaces for young leaders. The country’s Ministry of Women and Social Affairs is now leading a movement to lay the groundwork for developing a National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security.
In schools, peace clubs are training youth to mediate and de-escalate conflicts. Nearly 300 youth peacebuilders in Asosa and Gambella were trained in conflict mediation with the UN Refugees Agency’s (UNHCR) Peacebuilding Manual, under the Regional Youth Peacebuilding Programme. These youth have already taught their skills to over 1,000 of their peers.
Meanwhile, Government institutions, civil society organizations, and international agencies are now being trained in youth, peace, and security studies, which have been carried out to incoporate these issues into Ethiopia’s peacebuilding efforts.
In June 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that many youth remain on the margins of decision-making processes. Instability and limited economic opportunities, the UNDP said, have left many young people vulnerable. For these youth, peace means not only an end to violence, but access to education, quality jobs, fair representation, and a life of dignity and security.
The UNDP noted that it is also important to address gender disparities for young women through “deliberate, gender-sensitive policies and programs.”
Another issue to address in youth peacebuilding in Ethiopia is social media. The UNDP stresses that while social media can help build connnection and expose young Ethiopians to the world, it can also spread divisive narratives and worsen ethnic tensions. The institution recommends finding ways to promote positive and responsible use of digital platforms by youth.
In June 2024, Peace News Network (PNN) published an article about bottom-up peacebuilding in Ethiopia. Megersa Tolera argued that open and inclusive dialogue, which brings together various stakeholders, would help to empower local mediation and reconciliation efforts. Engaging communities and local leaders, he said, can lead to change at the grassroots level. Traditional and religious leaders can help to spread messages of peace and tolerance, while cultural exchange programs, joint projects, and educational initiatives can help build trust, understanding, and peace between communities. Encouraging the participation of marginalized groups, especially women and youth, is also essential. To read the full article, click here.
Keywords: Ethiopia, Ethiopian, Ethiopian Peacebuilding Network, peace, conflict, conflict resolution, youth, youth peacebuilding
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
