BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Peace and development are remaining the call of the times. The pressure to resolve conflicts, promote peace and realize development in each corner of the globe is becoming a common agenda that global actors are striving to achieve it. Following the reason that people across the world have become members of a community on account of living in the same global village, for their interests and securities are intertwined and they shared common destiny, the efforts to maintain peace as per the values and moral is fading out.
It is bold fact that we cannot develop without peaceful environment and arrange human capital in more productive fashion. The bottom line is that we live in the same earth village and; it is imperative for us to recognize that we share the same future. If not, the fate of the coming generation will remain uncertain.
Yes, peace is a pre-requisite for development as a whole because it creates an enabling environment for the fundamentals of a society’s progress: human capital formation, development of infrastructure, upholding the rule of law, and so on.
It is clear that peace is a key component for sustainable development. At the same time a healthy business environment is an important element for development. However, in countries where peace is at risk and violated, business operations would be disrupted, development will be obstructed due to the unreliable social services and the prevalence of social problems such as poverty, hunger and inequality.
Understanding that peace is the most important ingredient for development, as it creates an enabling environment for the fundamentals of a society’s progress: human capital formation, infrastructure development, to ensure the rule of law, and so on countries strive to sustain peace within their territories thereby build fair, just and peaceful communities.
Ethiopia has also been working aggressively to manage and resolve conflicts, maintain peace and advance development not only with in its border and in the region; but even beyond.
Of late, a forum – Entrepreneurial Forum for Peace and Development (EFPP) – that aimed at promoting peace and fostering development among member countries of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region was officially launched.
At the forum, which was led by former Ethiopian leaders and operating actively in Ethiopia’s and IGAD region’s peace and development matters, including President Sahle-Work Zewde, senior public officials and members of the business community took part. The participants shared their insights on ways how to promote peace and foster development in East- Africa as well as the role entrepreneurs can play in ensuring peace.
In her opening remark, President Sahle-Work said that across the world, including Ethiopia, the business community is the main victim of conflicts and war. Due to this, the business community should be actively in the efforts made to ensure peace and proactively responding to publics’ development demands.
Mentioning that the establishment of the Forum is timely, the President said that the Forum, which has officially commenced its work, will enable Ethiopia to stand by its own, and has significant contribution to maintain peace in the IGAD region; and the continent at large.
As to the President, because we did not accomplish the tasks that we should have been executed previously, Ethiopia has encountered plenty of challenges. However, currently the government is undertaking inclusive peace and development efforts in which charity organizations and businesspeople are involved.
Sahle-Work stressed that the Forum should devise a strategy that enables to resolve induced droughts and disruptions in development activities that came to happen following the security threats in the IGAD countries.
The Entrepreneurial Forum for Peace and Development should work closely with the governments of member countries to enable Ethiopia and the IGAD region to get out of the cycle of conflict and war, she further said.
Similarly, it has to work jointly with those entities working in the area of peace and development so as to bring lasting peace in the region. The Ethiopian Government will provide the necessary support for the forum to enable it realize its goal, she affirmed.
Ethiopians, if determined and stand together, will undoubtedly ensure lasting peace in short time, the President said.
President Sahle-Work also called on entrepreneurs to practically prove their support for promoting peace and fostering development in IGAD region.
EFPP Executive Board Chairperson and former Ethiopian President, Mulatu Teshonme on his part said that the business community has been the main victim of the problems that have come about in the country over the past years.
“The forum, by coordinating the business community, will work determinedly to resolve conflicts in peaceful manner, to prevent and mitigate the occurrences of conflicts, and if they occur, it will carry out rapid rehabilitation activities in order to help build transformative and sustainable peace, continue economic and social development activities on a regular basis,” Mulatu elaborated.
EFPP General Assembly Chairperson, Belayneh Kinde also said that the country’s current situation compels the private sector to join hands, and stand together for peace more than ever before.
Owing to this, he added, the business community is committed and determined to actively participate in the efforts exerted by the government and the people to ensure peace and sustain development across the country.
The “Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)” is an eight-country in the Horn of Africa. Currently, it comprises the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
This regional organization, based in Djibouti, supports its member states in their manifold development efforts, especially in the areas of peace processes and development.
IGAD was established in 1996. It succeeded the earlier Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD), a multinational body founded in 1986 by Djibouti,
The Ethiopian Herald 6 August 2022
