The Alliance of Civil Society Organizations of Tigray (ACSOT) successfully concluded a Project Performance Review Meeting for the Peace by Her Hands: Building Inclusive and Lasting Peace Through Women’s Empowerment project. The half-day meeting was held on June 27, 2026, in Mekelle, bringing together 25 women leaders representing ACSOT’s member women-led and women’s rights civil society organizations.
The review meeting was convened to assess the project’s progress, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned since its launch in March 2026. The project, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in partnership with ELiDA, Timran, and ACDD, aims to strengthen women’s participation, representation, and leadership in peacebuilding processes in Tigray.
Key Highlights of the Review:
Project Progress: The meeting reviewed the successful implementation of three capacity-building workshops in Mekelle and Axum (March 2026), a media training session for 20 media actors (April 2026), and a multi-sectoral dialogue forum (May 2026), all of which exceeded gender participation targets with over 70% women attendees.
Strategic Planning Outcomes: Participants validated the outcomes of the June 19–20 Strategic Planning Session, during which women-led CSOs developed a comprehensive 3-year action plan aligned with the four pillars of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Participation, Protection, Prevention, and Relief & Recovery).
Lessons Learned & Way Forward: The forum underscored the importance of participatory approaches, the necessity of engaging men as allies in WPS advocacy, and the critical role of high-level political commitment in advancing women’s inclusion. A key next step is the finalization and validation of the strategic plan, followed by advocacy for a dedicated WPS budget line within the Tigray regional government’s planning cycle.
“Today’s review reaffirms the resilience, capacity, and determination of women-led CSOs in Tigray to lead peacebuilding efforts,” said Berihu Gebremedhin, Project Manager at ACSOT. “The Peace by Her Hands project has not only built awareness but has also created a sustainable platform for women to actively shape the peace and security agenda in our region. We remain committed to translating these plans into concrete action.”
The meeting also highlighted the project’s strong performance in achieving value for money, including the optimization of resources to train 67% more media participants than originally planned, and the integration of safeguarding principles across all activities.
About the Project:
Peace by Her Hands: Building Inclusive and Lasting Peace Through Women’s Empowerment is implemented by ACSOT with funding from the FCDO through the Women Count for Peace initiative led by ELiDA, Timran, and ACDD. The project directly contributes to Ethiopia’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.