The Center for Development and Governance (CDG) implemented a project titled “Integrating Peace-building Development and Humanitarian Efforts (IPDHE) along Ethio-Kenyan Border” in partnership with VSO Ethiopia from Ethiopia and HODI (Horn of African Development Initiative) from Kenya.   It was a cross-border project implemented over two years period (August 2022 – October 2024) as funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and targeted border areas of Borana Zone of Ethiopia and adjacent areas of Kenya. The project referred to as ‘Triple Nexus’ – Development, Peace Building and Humanitarian Efforts – aims to promote cross-border communities’ interaction and collaboration and building resiliency.  It was a community-led action on cross-border issues.

There were multiple activities accomplished during the project period that covered pertinent capacity building trainings, workshops, dialogues, establishing forums, consultative meetings and policy related challenges identification assessments on issues arrived at in the course of implementation of the plan. The activities were eventually covered via available channels in news reports, periodic reports and documentary films.

Policy related community challenges were identified from members of the community in the course of project implementation among which were policy issues attributed to exposure to vulnerability in the day to day lives of the people. The assessment was done using standard methodology. The points thus discussed with community representatives were cross-border trade, drug smuggling, human trafficking, cross-border community mobility, natural resources use and management, and cross-border institutional collaborations.

The overall details of the assessment findings of these issues were primarily generated from the grassroots community and the Kebele and were later discussed with authorities and experts at different levels from Woreda to the Region. The findings of the assessments on these issues were validated attesting they exist without exception.

The best way out to overcome the challenges in the course of peace building, development and resiliency as recommended during the series of deliberations were to emphasize on policy issues both in sensitizing the existing ones and look into new ones as needed. This is the major aim of the workshop of today on which the findings and the recommendations shall be considered by senior government officials or policy makers to discuss and have their say on future policy directions.