Member

Eastern Development Initiative is a federally owned and legally registered organization from the federal Authority for Civil Society Organization (ACSO, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the registration number 2725. Our organization accomplishes a number of projects since the time it was established in 2008 G.C.

The Eastern Development Initiative (EDI) is committed to the social, cultural, and economic inclusion and development of women, girls, and youth through research, sensitization forums, skills development, and capacity building. EDI also actively promotes good governance, peace, and conflict reconciliation as key pillars of its work. Guided by its mission to advocate for gender equality, social inclusion, and sustainable development, EDI collaborates with civil society institutions working in gender, health, peace and security, environment, and poverty eradication.

Organizational Reach and Capacity: – Operating across Dire Dawa, Oromia, and Harari, EDI has earned a strong reputation as a reliable and community-rooted development actor. Its dedicated team brings over a decade of practical experience in facilitating inclusive development processes. Using participatory methods, rights-based frameworks, and strong local partnerships, EDI continues to deliver tangible, sustainable impact in advancing social justice, peace, and accountable governance in Ethiopia.

Vision
By 2035, EDI strives for an inclusive Ethiopia, anchored in self-reliance, dignity, and intergenerational justice, where women, girls, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups actively contribute to equitable development across the country.

Mission
EDI works in collaborative efforts with various organizations working on gender, peace, health, education, environment, poverty eradication, and other social wellbeing responsibilities—based on the country’s long-term development plan—to realize the social, cultural, and economic inclusion and development of women, girls, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.

Strategic Focus Areas

EDI’s programming is organized around six thematic pillars: Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI); Youth and Women Empowerment; Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation; Social Accountability and Governance; Health, Education, and Inclusive Services; and Environmental Protection and Climate Resilience. These interconnected themes guide EDI’s rights-based, inclusive, and community-centered development approach.

Experience and Key Interventions

Eastern Development Initiative (EDI) has implemented a broad array of impactful projects, particularly in Dire Dawa, Oromia, and Harari regions. One of its most notable contributions has been through its long-standing engagement in the Ethiopian Social Accountability Program (ESAP Phase 2 and 3). In partnership with Hope for Children, and with support from the World Bank and VNG International, EDI worked across Dire Dawa and Oromia regions to strengthen democratic governance by bridging the gap between citizens and local government actors.

Through intensive awareness-raising campaigns and participatory tools like the Community Score Card (CSC) and Citizen Report Card (CRC), EDI enabled communities to systematically assess public service performance in sectors such as health, education, water, and agriculture. These processes led to open and constructive dialogue between citizens and service providers, resulting in collaborative action plans to improve service delivery. The program fostered a culture of accountability, where government actors became more responsive to community-identified needs and rights. Media interventions were also integrated to amplify citizen voices and promote transparency.

EDI’s facilitation efforts resulted in tangible improvements in service accessibility and quality. In multiple intervention woredas, the participatory processes encouraged local councils to revise budgets, prioritize citizen concerns, and commit to follow-up actions. The Social Accountability work also strengthened community structures and laid the foundation for long-term civic engagement and inclusive governance.

In the area of peacebuilding, EDI leads the Community-Led Conflict Transformation through Participatory Action Research (PAR) project. This innovative approach empowers communities to explore the root causes of local conflict and collaboratively develop actionable solutions, significantly strengthening intergroup dialogue and trust.

EDI has also implemented Sustainable Peace Activity, SPA project with the support of USAID/pact to promote social cohesion and community conversation through various project intervention. Other project intervention includes symbolic civic campaigns such as “Running for Peace,” grassroots consultations, and public dialogue forums designed to foster shared understanding and mitigate tensions among diverse communities. Similarly, voter education and civic engagement projects have helped deepen public understanding of democratic participation and foster inclusive civic culture.

In another vital area, EDI implemented a participatory project to enhance infrastructural accessibility for persons with disabilities, addressing systemic exclusion by working with authorities to identify and eliminate physical barriers in public infrastructure.

EDI has also led community-led HIV/AIDS service monitoring in Dire Dawa, enabling affected populations to provide real-time feedback on service delivery, improving health outcomes and transparency. The organization has supported girls’ STEM education, civic education for youth, and livelihood assistance for orphans and vulnerable children, often working in collaboration with local schools, community groups, and international agencies.

Current Active Projects

EDI is currently implementing:

• Community-Led Conflict Transformation through Participatory Action Research (PAR) in Dire Dawa and Harar
• Promoting Sustainable Peace through traditional conflict resolution method Among the Community of Adama

Both projects focus on local ownership, inclusive dialogue, and building sustainable peace infrastructures through grassroots and institutional partnerships.

Partners and Contributors

EDI’s work is supported by diverse and strategic partnerships including:

• International Development Partners: Life & Peace Institute (LPI), European Union, USAID, PACT, ECE, Creative International, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), British Council, and World Bank (via VNG International), International Republican Institute (IRI), UN (UN Women)
• Local Partners and Government Institutions: Hope for Children, Initiative Africa,  Dire Dawa Administration, Oromia and Harari regional offices, local councils, and service provider bureaus, Ministry of Peace, Oromia region and Dire Dawa administration BOLSA, ACSO, National Election Board, NEBE
• Networks and Platforms: National Social Accountability Coalition (NaSAC), Dire Dawa Civil Society Network (DDCSN)
• The founding member of National Ethiopian Peace Actor (NEPA)
• Community Stakeholders: Traditional leaders, women’s associations, youth groups, media outlets, and grassroots peace committees