2006 Grant Recipients of the Democracy and Human Rights Fund

Through its Small Projects Office, the U.S. Embassy is currently providing 57,045 USD (493,439 ETB) in support to five Democracy and Human Rights Fund that are benefiting 22,020 persons in two regions of Ethiopia. Read below to learn about these worthy projects.

Civic Education and Promotion of Women's Rights for Kereyu Women in Fantalle 
Benti-Mogasa, Galcha, Gidara and Kobo Kebeles, Fantalle District, Eastern Shoa Zone, Oromia Region

Kereyu women attending the workshop on Harmful Traditional Practices, HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections listen as audience members debate the issues.

Policy measures in the areas of education and women’s rights to achieve economic growth and reduce poverty have had little positive effect on the pastoralist Kereyu people of the Fantelle district.  The Kereyu depend upon livestock management for their sustenance but recent droughts and a shrinking land base have resulted in tremendous suffering. In times of stress, women’s responsibilities increase, as traditional gender roles require them to perform the most laborious tasks. Thus, this project seeks to utilize civic education and mobilization as key strategies for bringing about fundamental improvements in the status of Kereyu women, and for increasing their leadership and decision-making roles. The estimated number of beneficiaries is 11,680 individuals.  The U.S. contribution to this project is 18,000 USD while the local contribution is land, volunteer labor and space in Matahara High School for advocacy and sensitization workshops.

 

Public Awareness Creation on Female Genital Mutilation and its Horrifying Consequences
Jijiga Town, Somali Region

Awareness-raising posters encourage workshop participants to abandon the practice of FGM.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which causes tremendous physical and psychological suffering for women and girls, is practiced widely in the Somali region. Eradicating this Harmful Traditional Practice requires changes in community members’ attitudes and behaviors. This project seeks to facilitate such change by increasing awareness of the causes of FGM, the myths surrounding it, the negative effects of FGM on women’s and girls’ health, and women’s rights in general. Approximately 120 religious leaders, women’s leaders, parents, youth club members, health workers and community leaders are beneficiaries of this project.  The U.S. contribution is 20,000 USD.

 

Conflict Prevention, Resolution and Management in Pastoralist Communities
Moyale Town (Oromia Region) and Assosa Town (Beneshangul-Gumuz Region) 

Elders, traditional and religious leaders, and woreda officials discuss traditional strategies for resolving conflict and promoting peace.

For generations, violent conflicts have posed a serious threat to development and stability in Ethiopia’s pastoralist communities. Councils of elders and traditional court systems have played important roles in resolving conflicts. In recent times, however, various factors have weakened and undermined these traditional institutions, yet it is believed that strengthening them is essential for conflict prevention and management purposes. Therefore, this project aims to strengthen existing traditional systems of governance, and raise awareness of peace promotion and its links to economic development, within pastoralist communities. The direct beneficiaries are about 160 representatives of councils of elders, civil society groups, national and regional authorities, and traditional community leaders, while the indirect beneficiaries number several thousand. The U.S contribution to this project is 12,000 USD while the local contribution is management expertise and labor.  

Workshop for Creating Awareness on Women's Right to Equality
Jijiga, Degahabur, Fik and Shinile Zones, Somali Region

Participants at a workshop to increase support for women’s rights listen intently to one of the presenters.

Women in the Somali region experience various forms of exclusion, prejudice and segregation from birth to death. Efforts waged to improve women’s status must address the root causes of these problems by tackling social and cultural justifications. Therefore, this workshop aims to: 1) create an environment that supports women’s right to equality, 2) advance the notion that women’s equality is beneficial for all, and 3) increase women’s understanding of their rights and how to promote them. About 60 workshop participants including women’s leaders, elders, government officials, civil society advocates and students are beneficiaries of this project. The U.S contribution to this project is 4,707 USD while the local contribution is 837.86 USD.

Increasing Awareness of Crime Analysis among Justice Sector Professionals
National 

This project aims to increase awareness of problem-solving related to crime analysis among judges, pubic prosecutors and legal professionals working in Ethiopia’s justice system.  About 10,000 federal and regional judges and public prosecutors, and other legal professionals across Ethiopia are beneficiaries of this project. The U.S. conribution to this project is 2,338 USD.