IAG’s work is set in the Horn of Africa, that part of Northeastern Africa that juts into the Indian Ocean, giving the region its distinctive shape. In 2023, the Horn comprises a population of 209 Million people spread across Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Djibouti.
Inter Africa Group (IAG) is an independent non-profit organization established in 1989 with a mission of supporting sustainable development, strengthening democratic institutions, deepening democratic culture and promoting peace and security in the Horn of Africa. Over the last 34 years IAG has cultivated a reputable niche in research and public dialogue on vital development issues, governance and peace building policy initiatives both in the context of Ethiopia and regionally. IAG plays a significant role in the context of regional peace building and in countering violent extremism in collaboration with national government actors, Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), and international partners.
Between 2016 and 2018, Inter Africa Group, in partnership with the Directorate General of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Federal and Pastoralist Development Affairs, Ethiopia,
carried out a study titled “Countering the Threat of Violent Extremism in Ethiopia” with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The research explored the drivers of violent extremism, the vulnerable groups and areas, the local capacities to counter violent extremism, the potential partners in the fight against VE, and other related issues to design counter-extremism interventions and develop national strategy. This nation-wide study was undertaken in the following regions and city administrations: Afar, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Oromia, Somali, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, Tigray, Addis Ababa, and Dire Dawa.
In 2005, IAG organized local pre-election debates in Ethiopia that enabled contending political parties to present their campaign agenda to the public and helped the electorate to make informed choices during that election.
Between February 2019 and June 2021, IAG in partnership with International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) and International Revival Ministry (IRM)
implemented the “Knowledge-Based Dialogue” (KBD) project to facilitate civil exchange of views on selected crucial thematic issues among political party leaders and other relevant stakeholders. This EU-funded project involved presentation of ten papers on vital national issues of concern, and the result has been published as a monograph. IAG was tasked with the research and publication and IRM was mandated to facilitate the dialogues in collaboration with IAG. IIDEA was the overall coordinator of the project.
In 2023, IAG has partnered with Life and Peace Institute (LPI) and Ethiopian Institute of Peace (EIP) to implement EU-funded project title “Civil Society Capacity Strengthening for Peace”.
One of the objectives of the project is to identify and support CSOs working on peace. Accordingly, IAG conducted a CSO mapping study to locate and understand the organizational standing and technical experiences of the organizations for subsequent capacity development intervention. The second objective of the project is to enhance the role of CSOs in dialogue and reconciliation efforts at the national, regional and community levels. IAG was responsible for the preparation of a manual on dialogue facilitation and provision of training for CSOs on the manual.
In 2022 and 2023, IAG in collaboration with Mercy Corps and the CREATE (Collective Resilience Against Extremism) program conducted research on the dynamics leading to recruitment,
radicalisation and collaboration with violent extremist actors in Ethiopia. The study, commissioned by the UK Office for Conflict, was undertaken in five research areas: Jigjiga and surrounds (Somali Region), Dolo Ado and Suftu area (Somali Region), Afder area (Somali Region), Dallo Mana and Meda Welabu area (Oromia Region), and Moyale area (Oromia and Somali Regions). This research aims to generate knowledge that will enable the Ethiopian Government and partners to understand and counter the threats of violent extremism.
Between 2017 and 2020, IAG partnered with Mandera Women for Peace and Development (MWFPD), Integrated Development Focus (IDF), and Network for Peace and Development (NEPED)
to implement a project titled “Regional Approaches for Sustainable Conflict Management and Integration” (RASMI), which was funded by the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF). The project adopted a conflict systems based approach to promote peace-building, conflict management, and conflict resolution capacity at the community and cross-border levels. It was part of the EU’s program for collaboration in the cross border areas of the Horn of Africa designed to prevent and mitigate the impact of local conflict and to promote economic development and greater resilience in four different cross-border regions.
In 2016, IAG provided support for out-of-school young girls in order to facilitate access to education and skill training for adolescent girls aged 12-18 in selected regions, with the broader aim of investing in human capital and empowering the beneficiaries to lift themselves and their communities out of poverty.
One of the objectives of the project is to identify and support CSOs working on peace. Accordingly, IAG conducted a CSO mapping study to locate and understand the organizational standing and technical experiences of the organizations for subsequent capacity development intervention. The second objective of the project is to enhance the role of CSOs in dialogue and reconciliation efforts at the national, regional and community levels. IAG was responsible for the preparation of a manual on dialogue facilitation and provision of training for CSOs on the manual.