Contribution of the Ethiopian diaspora to peace-building : a case study of the Tigrai Development Association

Abstract

Introduction: Migration scholars believed that, traditionally, most immigrants tended to sever their ties to their countries of origin as they get assimilated into the countries of destination. Recent studies suggest, however, that transnational migrants tend to maintain ties with the countries of origin and contribute to conflict or peace-building and development activities. With this premise, DIASPEACE, a research project undertaken by a consortium of eight partner institutions, intends to generate evidence-based and policy-relevant knowledge on the impact of diaspora activities on conflict and peace-building by studying diaspora networks in Europe and their transnational activities in the Horn of Africa. The Forum for Social Studies (FSS), one of the partner institutions in the consortium, have produced the present report based on a qualitative study of the activities of Tigray Development Association (TDA), which originated as a diaspora organization but is now an Ethiopian-based NGO with strong diaspora links. This introductory section discusses the processes that led to the production of the report on the Ethiopian case study. The research project involves different phases and activities. FSS has been actively participating in the project since the kick-off workshop held in Brussels, Belgium, on 5-6 May 2008. The workshop was designed to bring the DIASPEACE researchers together and deliberate on research objectives and methods, key research questions, literature review, work plan, and project management. During the kick-off meeting, FSS was represented by Kassahun Berhanu and Gebre Yntiso, who are responsible for the case study in Ethiopia, with Bahru Zewde as the team leader. [Continues]