Success in social cohesion in Gambella, Ethiopia

Among the most successful initiatives are the Jewie Community-Driven Initiative (CDI), the execution of 16 consultation sessions with both host communities and refugees, and the establishment of a community relations structure in the Itang Woreda.

The CDI, launched under  DRC's protection program, aims to strengthen social integration and foster harmony between residents of the Jewie refugee camp and the host community in Jewie Kebele.  

The primary objectives of these social cohesion activities are to strengthen peacebuilding efforts and promote inclusive participation and representation.

To address existing tensions, a committee composed of both host and refugee community members proposed the construction of a marketplace at the intersection of the two populations. DRC supported this initiative by providing funding and actively involving the communities in the project's progress. 

A significant achievement was the construction of the Jewie marketplace, a community-driven project designed to meet the needs of both host and refugee communities. A committee of 28 members 14 from the refugee community and 14 from the host community was formed to oversee the initiative.

These members received training in proposal writing, community risk analysis, conflict resolution, and the management of community-driven initiatives. Through this training, the committee identified protection risks, including limited access to the market and language barriers between the two groups. 

After the marketplace was built, the host and refugee communities began exchanging goods and learning each other's languages. This daily interaction has led to stronger communication, resource-sharing, and joint celebrations of holidays, significantly improving relations between the two communities. Sporting competitions have also been organized to maintain these bonds and foster long-term peace. 

In Abol Woreda, DRC's protection monitoring team identified conflicts between host and refugee communities during monthly assessments. Consultations were held with both groups to understand their needs for peacebuilding, leading to conflict management and peacebuilding training facilitated by the DRC team.

Forty-two participants from both communities took part in the training and committed to promoting peace. The training materials emphasized restoring peace and addressing the root causes of conflict, equipping participants with the tools to foster social cohesion. 

Another key achievement was the formation of a Neighborhood Relations Committee in Itang Special Woreda. Composed of 33 members—12 from the refugee community, 12 from the host community, and 7 representatives from UNHCR, Refugees and Returnees Services (RRS), and other relevant parties—the committee oversees peacebuilding dialogues and social cohesion initiatives.

Many of these initiatives, which are led by young people, play a central role in local peace committees, helping to maintain harmony between the host and refugee populations.