Life&Peace Institute

@LPI_voices was invited to participate in the inaugural Community of Practice (CoP) on Climate, Peace, and Security convened by @IGAD_CPAC and the Office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. The meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from IGAD Member States, AU, UN agencies, among other development partners. This engagement aligns closely with LPI's Horn of Africa Regional Programme (HARP) commitment to convene diverse stakeholders and strengthen the inclusion of civil society voices in policy spaces. LPI had an opportunity to share its experiences and contributions in advancing the climate, peace, and security agenda across the region. As part of the Community of Practice (CoP) on Climate, Peace, and Security in the Horn of Africa, LPI looks forward to continued collaboration with our partner IGAD through this platform, working alongside other partners to strengthen linkages between climate action and peacebuilding, and to support collective efforts towards creating a more resilient #HornOfAfrica.

LPI was invited to participate in the inaugural Community of Practice (CoP) on Climate, Peace, and Security convened by @IGAD_CPAC and the @OSE_HoA The meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from IGAD Member States,  AU, UN agencies, among other development partners. This engagement aligns closely with LPI's Horn of Africa Regional Programme (HARP) commitment to convene diverse stakeholders and strengthen the inclusion of civil society voices in policy spaces. LPI had an opportunity to share its experiences and contributions in advancing the climate, peace, and security agenda across the region. As part of the Community of Practice (CoP) on Climate, Peace, and Security in the Horn of Africa, LPI looks forward to continued collaboration with our partner IGAD through this platform, working alongside other partners to strengthen linkages between climate action and peacebuilding, and to support collective efforts towards creating a more resilient #HornOfAfrica. @SweinEthiopia

Rethinking regional integration and migration governance in West Africa. At a recent high-level dialogue co-convened with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, key stakeholders reflected on the implications of recent political shifts on mobility, livelihoods, and regional cooperation. The discussion highlighted growing challenges, from increased barriers to movement to gaps in coordination, while also underscoring the resilience of migrant communities and the critical role of civil society.

Strengthening Cross-Border Collaboration in Busia This week, the Life & Peace Institute, in collaboration with IGAD’s CEWARN and local partners from Busia and Moyale, is undertaking a field visit to the Busia border to support the implementation of the Informal Cross-Border Trade – Cross Border Security Governance (ICBT-CBSG) Policy Framework. The visit brought together key stakeholders at the Busia border to engage directly with communities, traders, and local authorities, with the aim of: • Enhancing understanding of the policy framework at the local level • Identifying practical challenges and opportunities in its implementation • Strengthening coordination among cross-border actors • Promoting conflict-sensitive and inclusive approaches to informal trade and mobility Busia, as a vital border point, offers a unique lens into how informal cross border trade intersects with livelihoods, security, and regional cooperation. Insights from the field will inform ongoing efforts to ensure the framework responds effectively to local realities while contributing to peace and stability in the region.

Yesterday, Life & Peace Institute’s Sudan Programme and the Horn of Africa Regional Programme held their annual review meeting with Sida. The discussions reflected on progress made in programme implementation, with a focus on conflict sensitivity, gender and social inclusion, and environmental considerations. The meeting also included a contextual update, discussions on revised plans and budgets, and reflections on strengthening programmatic synergy and long-term sustainability. We appreciate the continued partnership and constructive dialogue as we work together to support sustainable peace in the region.

This week, our M&M Project commemorated World Wildlife Day in Moyale through a joint collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Services, the Office of the Deputy County Commissioner, Officer Commanding Police Department, youth representatives, women leaders, and elders. The activity involved a joint clean-up exercise and an awareness walk in town. Participants actively collected waste along the route while engaging the community on the importance of maintaining a clean environment for wildlife, human health, and future generations. The initiative highlighted how proper waste management protects biodiversity, improves sanitation, and strengthens community responsibility. The strong turnout and active participation demonstrated unity and shared commitment toward sustainable environmental conservation in Moyale

Our M&M project officially launched a Small Grants initiative with 10 Community-Based Organizations. At the launching ceremony, the grantees went through the project expectations, key variables, and responsibilities to ensure a clear understanding of the grant implementation process. The session concluded with the formal signing of grant agreements, marking the beginning of the implementation phase and reinforcing a shared commitment between the project team and community groups to drive sustainable impact and strengthen community-led initiatives across Moyale.

A Bukavu en date du 10 Décembre 2025, le partenaire Youth For Peace avec l’appui de LPI a organisé un événement culturel réunissant les jeunes des différentes organisations du RJP-GL au nom de la paix, dans le cadre du projet de consolidation de la paix et de résilience transfrontalière dans la région des Grands Lacs.

Le 14 janvier 2026, AJECL avec l’appui de LPI a organisé un atelier dans le secteur de Nkanka, district de Rusizi, en vue d’établir des Clubs de paix Gwizamahoro dans six écoles secondaires, dans le cadre du projet de consolidation de la paix et de résilience transfrontalière dans la région des Grands Lacs.

Entre novembre 2025 et janvier 2026, un groupe de 12 jeunes a participé à un processus structuré de dialogue soutenu, facilité par deux modérateurs formés, afin d’analyser les défis affectant leurs communautés. Au fil de six sessions, les participants ont identifié l’abus de drogues chez les jeunes vivant en zones frontalières comme une problématique majeure, en lien avec des données nationales indiquant une prévalence élevée de consommation de substances chez les jeunes. Ce processus a été facilité au Rwanda par le partenaire AJCL avec l’appui de LPI.

Le partenaire AJECL avec le soutien de LPI à travers le programme Gwizamahoro 2100, a organisé le 5 décembre 2025, l’atelier de Dialogue Intra–Intergénérationnel pour la mobilisation et la sensibilisation communautaire, réunissant des participants et des partenaires engagés dans la consolidation de la paix à travers les générations dans la région des Grands Lacs.

Le 30 janvier 2026, le partenaire AJECL avec le soutien de LPI, a organisé un événement culturel dans le secteur de Nkanka, district de Rusizi, sous le thème : « Nous, les jeunes de la région des Grands Lacs, grandissons pour jouer ensemble, vivre ensemble et rester unis, non pour nous combattre. » L’événement a réuni des élèves, des jeunes non scolarisés, des membres de clubs de paix Gwizamahoro, des leaders religieux, des représentants des autorités locales ainsi que des organisations de la société civile.

Mariam Babu is changing helping women traders at Busia border. For years, fear of harassment & misinformation forced women onto unsafe routes. Thru Sweden-backed @IGADsecretariat policy & her work with @LPI_voices, she empowers women to trade trade safely & grow businesses.

The LPI Ethiopia team gathered for our 2025 Annual Reflection and Planning Meeting. Over the past three days, we reflected on Ethiopia’s 2025 context, reviewed our achievements and challenges, listened to our partners, and analysed the changes and outcomes our work has contributed to. We also reflected on how we communicate our results and successes and how we can strengthen the visibility, clarity and impact of our work. Following an in-depth review of what worked, what didn’t, and the key lessons learned, we concluded with a discussion on strategic priorities for 2026. This annual reflection builds on the annual reflection and outcome harvesting meeting with partners and key stakeholders held at the end of December 2025 in Adama, Ethiopia.

🪁 KITES FOR PEACE – SUNRISE TO SUNSET EDITION held in Hawassa Life & Peace Institute (LPI) in collaboration with Timret Lehiwot Ethiopia, UNFPA, Rotary Fellowship of Kites (RFOK), Rotaract Club of Menen, Rotaract Club of Hawassa, Ethiopian Aero Club, Ethiopia Reads, OwlEvents and the Rotary Ethiopia Peace Center together with partner Rotary, Rotaracts clubs in Hawassa, organized a colorful Kite for Peace Festival. The event brought together people from surrounding communities, youth clubs including rotarians and rotaractors to celebrate unity, healing, resilience, and hope. The sky above Hawassa has been transformed into a living canvas—alive with Kites carrying messages of peace, resilience, joy, and solidarity. The festival included several activities including lifting kite, painting, exhibitions,and interactive sessions. Each Kite that rose became a voice for healing, a symbol of hope, and a testament to what communities can achieve when they stand together. This festival honors the dedication of all partners working tirelessly to build peaceful, inclusive, and thriving societies—through dialogue, creativity, gender equality, youth empowerment, and community-led action.

Following our participation in the CSO–UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding in Geneva this week, our partners from the Great Lakes Region and Horn of Africa Regional Programmes ensured local realities informed high-level UN discussions. This engagement resulted in a powerful call for change, urging the UN System to adapt procedures to CSO needs, simplify and democratize funding, and adopt trust-based financing models that provide long-term, flexible support directly to local organizations. By bridging the gap between local insights and global policy, we are ensuring sustainable peace efforts are driven by those closest to the conflict. The push for sustainable peace requires policies built on trust and equality.

This morning in Addis Ababa, Peace for Ethiopia (PFE) and @LPI_voices' Ethiopia Programme convened a half-day Peace Conference on “Religious Leaders as Agents of Peace, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion in Ethiopia.” The conference brought together religious leaders and representatives from Ethiopia’s wider religious community, along with peace practitioners and other stakeholders, creating a meaningful platform for open dialogue on the role of religious leadership in countering hate speech, strengthening social cohesion, and promoting sustainable peace. The conference featured opening prayers from religious leaders, keynote remarks from PFE and LPI, reflections from the Ethiopian Evangelical Council, and presentations on addressing hate speech and the role of religious institutions in peacebuilding and reconciliation. An engaging panel discussion followed, exploring challenges, lived experiences, and opportunities for collective action.