Youth Contributions to the National Dialogue: A Path to Peace and Reconciliation

FES Ethiopia partnering with national and local organizations like Ybuntu, ASCOT and STS has held a youth side dialogue on the National Dialogue in Axum Tigray Region on August 8, 2024. The workshop in Axum brought together 50 participants from various towns, and even internally displaced persons (IDP), making the event a representation of the region's diverse inhabitants. The discussions were rich and multifaceted, touching on the pace of post-conflict reconstruction, the need for youth-led initiatives in rebuilding efforts, and the critical importance of including young people in decision-making processes. Participants shared their concerns about the challenges of restoring infrastructure and essential services, emphasizing the necessity of their involvement to ensure that their perspectives and needs are adequately addressed.

Economic hardships also featured prominently in the discussions, with many young people expressing frustration over the lack of employment opportunities in the region. The dialogue illuminated the urgent need for programs that support entrepreneurship and skill development, with participants proposing the creation of micro-finance initiatives aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs and stimulating the local economy. The dialogue further delved into the challenges of fostering social cohesion in a post-conflict environment. Participants recounted experiences of division and mistrust within their communities and proposed initiatives to promote dialogue and reconciliation. They advocated for the establishment of community centers that could serve as safe spaces for healing, rebuilding trust, and fostering social unity. Other key proposals for addressing the challenges were the establishment of a Youth Peace Network as well as more educational campaigns to raise awareness about the Ethiopian National Dialogue process.

With this FES and its partners have provided an essential dialogue platform to young leaders, youth-focused organizations, and NGOs to address the region's pressing political and social challenges. The dialogues underscored the crucial role of youth in the national dialogue process, providing an avenue for meaningful exchange leading to peace in the region and in Ethiopia.