Civic and voter education
Goal 1 of our Strategic Plan: promote civic and voter education in collaboration with members. We help citizens understand their rights and the electoral process, prevent electoral conflict and open political space for women, youth, persons with disabilities and internally displaced people.
Why it matters
Informed citizens make credible elections
A free and fair election is not only about the freedom to vote. Citizens also need to know why to vote, how to cast a vote, where to vote and when. Many Ethiopians, especially first-time voters, rural women, persons with disabilities and displaced people, still lack reliable information.
CECOE combines nationwide media campaigns with grassroots work by member CSOs, and keeps civic education going between elections on democracy, human rights, peace and dialogue.
How we work
- 1Nationwide campaigns
I-Vote in 2021 and I Vote Ethiopia in 2026 bring clear, independent voter information to TV, radio and social media in local languages.
- 2Members on the ground
With ECES support, member CSOs accredited by NEBE run their own voter education in their communities and languages.
- 3Learning that lasts
A civic education manual, the Biqu Zega e-learning platform and hubs, Niqu Zega debates and community listeners groups.
- 4Inclusion and peace
The Ye’esua Dimts radio programme for women’s voices, peacebuilding training and support to electoral early warning.
Programmes under goal 1
Objectives 1.1 to 1.3 of our Strategic Plan, and the projects that deliver them.
Improve skills and knowledge in civic and voter education.
Improve knowledge and skill on peace building, dialogue, democracy and conflict early warning.
Increase the participation of women, youth, PWD, IDPs and other marginalized groups in elections.
Irish Aid · 2026–2028Objective 1.1 · 1.3
Strengthening Civic Education for Inclusive Democratic Participation
A new two-year project that turns civic education into standing community structures. It runs Niqu Zega debates, a weekly Ye’esua Dimts radio season and four Community Civic Innovation Labs hosted by member CSOs, each anchoring four rural Listeners Groups in South Ethiopia, Sidama, Central Ethiopia and South West Ethiopia.
EU via ECES · 2025–2026Objective 1.1
I Vote Ethiopia 2026
National voter education campaign for the 7th General Election, run in four phases from February to election day on 1 June 2026: TV and radio public service announcements on registration, polling and turnout aired on 13 radio and 6 TV stations, a 12-episode radio show, 35 infographics and TikTok influencer videos designed to include persons with disabilities, women and rural voters.
IRI · 2021Objective 1.1
I-Vote voter education campaign
CECOE’s first nationwide voter information campaign for the 6th General Election, produced with Zeleman Production and aired on national and regional broadcasters and social media.
ECES · 6th and 7th General ElectionsObjective 1.1
Voter education by member CSOs
Twice, CECOE has channelled ECES support to members running their own voter education. For the 6th General Election it coordinated financing for member campaigns in different regions; for the 7th it issued a call for direct cost support to member CSOs working with first-time voters, women and persons with disabilities.
GIZ · 2024–2025Objective 1.1
Civic Education for Better Civic Engagement and Political Participation
Under GIZ’s Support to Good Governance programme, CECOE developed a civic education manual with infographics, trained trainers from member CSOs in Addis Ababa, Adama, Hawassa and Mekelle, and ran radio spots and the Niqu Zega social media campaign.
AFD · CSIF II · 2025–2028Objective 1.1 · 1.2
Biqu Zega civic e-learning and hubs
With consortium partners Ethiopian Women Rights Advocates and Bright Future, CECOE runs a free civic e-learning platform and regional Biqu Zega hubs with a Civic Café, interns and an Innovate for Democracy idea marathon that funds civic projects.
EU with NIMD · 2023–2025Objective 1.3
Balancing the Scales: women’s political participation
A three-year project to open politics to women. CECOE trained civic actors and women in lower government across the regions, launched the Ye’esua Dimts (Her Voice) weekly radio programme in December 2023, compiled the Araya encyclopedia of Ethiopian women role models, ran Women’s Month campaigns and led a study mission to Kenya.
FCDO · 2026–2027Objective 1.2
Electoral early warning and post-election peacebuilding
Civil society support to NEBE’s Electoral Early Warning Reporting System: monitors from member CSOs reported incidents to NEBE around election day, and member-led sub-grants now address post-election grievances, misinformation and hate speech in hotspot areas.
AFD · CSIF II · 2025–2028Objective 1.2
Inter-Regional Peacebuilding Initiative
Biqu Zega hubs link CSOs across conflict-affected regions in three clusters (Afar–Amhara–Tigray, Somali–Oromia–Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz–Amhara–Oromia) to design joint peacebuilding projects, supported by training and sub-grants.
NDI · Irish Aid · 2022–2023Objective 1.2
Peacebuilding, conflict mitigation and national dialogue
Peacebuilding training of trainers and workshops with members in Dire Dawa, Adama, Bahir Dar and Hawassa, followed by community workshops with elders, youth and religious leaders in Konso, Gedeo, Jigjiga, Semera, West Guji and Benishangul-Gumuz, and engagement in the National Dialogue agenda process.