A Step towards Resilience : Response to the Conflict-Induced Displacement in the West-Guji and Gedeo Zones of Ethiopia 2018

Abstract

This study seeks to explore an understanding into the multi-actor resilient approach that was adapted as a response to the conflict-induced displacement situation that occurred in the West-Guji and Gedeo Zones of Ethiopia 2018. The study draws on semi-structured interviews, observations and some reports and proposals from aid workers, displaced people or returnees, government officials and traditional leaders. The study used and combined concepts like humanitarianism, resilience, peacebuilding, muilti-actor approach and local ownership as a framework to explore and interpret the data. The study findings indicate that, several other factors apart from the conflict led to a protracted displacement situation in the West-Guji and Gedeo Zones. The Ethiopian government and humanitarian partners came up with a resilient strategy to address the displacement situation. The local community also mobilised efforts together with the government and the humanitarian partners to respond to situation. Even though some progress was made, there were several challenges that impeded the desired resilient recovery. With regards to the dynamic nature of the displacement, the end is very uncertain. Analytically, the study projects the perspective that, humanitarian governance without a proper collaboration with the local actors seems to retard the resilient recovery. When the local is fully included in the projects, their self-mobilization skills would provoke an efficient process of recovery. The study contributes to the understanding that, the local ownership concept is a necessary tool for these communities to address the conflict and displacement and push ahead to build resilient local structures in the society. Again, when several actors are involved in a humanitarian response, it is necessary to form a humanitarian eco-system rather than just a humanitarian governance without any collaboration and dependence among the actors. if there is no collaboration among actors, there will be clashes of roles and these factors will mitigate against the recovery process.