Over 90 leaders from government, political parties, CSOs, media, and international partners convene to translate systematic observation data into actionable electoral reforms.
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – October 2026 – Following the conclusion of its systematic citizen observation mission for the 7th General Election, the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) successfully organized a series of three Findings Dissemination Workshops in Adama (Oct 13), Hawassa (Oct 16), and Addis Ababa (Oct 19, 2026). Supported by the French Embassy, the workshops brought together 94 key stakeholders to review comprehensive electoral data, examine media monitoring reports, and discuss key legal and operational recommendations to enhance democratic accountability and electoral integrity in Ethiopia.
Fostering Evidence-Based Dialogue
Recognizing that the ultimate impact of election observation relies heavily on transparent, timely, and impartial reporting, CECOE designed these workshops to move beyond standard technical reporting. The primary objective was to foster evidence-based dialogue among core decision-makers, electoral authorities, political actors, and civil society, creating a collaborative platform to translate systematic observation findings into actionable policy and administrative reforms.
Across the three regional sessions, the workshops engaged a broad cross-section of 94 key opinion-shapers and leaders, including:
Media Representatives: Over 60 journalists and media professionals participated across the events, including 27 media personnel in Adama and key broadcast representatives in Addis Ababa.
Political Parties & Joint Council: Leaders from registered political parties—such as the Prosperity Party (PP), EZEMA, GOGOT, Renaissance Party, and others—alongside central and regional leadership from the Inter-Party Joint Council (PPJC) and its Women’s Wing.
Electoral & Government Institutions: Officials from the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO), the Ministry of Justice, and the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP).
Civil Society Organizations: Delegates from over a dozen CSOs, including CCRDA, CEHRO, CARD, EHRCO, TIMRAN, ELSA, and ENDAN.
International Partners: Representatives from international organizations and diplomatic missions, including the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), GIZ, and the British Embassy.
Key Insights from Systematic Observation & Media Monitoring
During the presentation sessions, CECOE outlined its nationwide deployment scale and presented key empirical findings covering the entire electoral cycle:
Deployment Scale & Operational Reach
CECOE mobilized 101 out of its 190 member CSOs (a >53% participation rate) to deploy community-based observers. The mission fielded 522 Long-Term Observers (LTOs)—one per constituency outside Tigray—who submitted 6,072 bi-weekly reports tracking voter education, security, civic space, and campaign dynamics. On Election Day, a core corps of 2,506 stationary observers and mobile roving teams monitored 7,723 polling stations across the country, representing 15% of all NEBE-established polling sites.
Pre-Election & Polling Day Trends
Field observations revealed a historic 95% turnout among 54 million registered voters and prompt station opening, with 98% of monitored stations operational by 7:00 AM equipped with complete materials and staff. Polling station physical accessibility for persons with disabilities reached 94% (a substantial improvement compared to 12% observed during manual voter registration).
However, critical operational challenges were highlighted:
Station Capacity Strains: Polling station ceilings capped at 1,500 voters created severe queues, leading NEBE to extend voting by six hours until midnight and forcing counting to take place late at night under worker exhaustion.
Irregularities: Observers documented ballot secrecy breaches at 169 stations, repeat unauthorized voter assistance at 87 stations, official ballot marking at 77 stations, and uncounted ballot box removals to military/administrative facilities at 59 stations.
Campaign Disparities: Campaign spending was heavily skewed due to delayed state funding releases, while government resource misuses (such as official vehicles used for campaign purposes) were recorded in 112 observer reports.
Media Monitoring Findings
Implemented in partnership with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) tracked 82 debate broadcasts across 5 languages and analyzed social media activities across 22 political parties. The findings demonstrated strong broadcast compliance with campaign silence rules and recorded 0% actionable identity-based hate speech or ethnic incitement during televised broadcasts. Nevertheless, key disparities remained: Amharic dominated 77.2% of debate broadcasts, the ruling Prosperity Party accounted for 84.6% of nationwide debate participation, and unverified claims spread rapidly on social media, emphasizing the need for enhanced real-time fact-checking.
Actionable Recommendations for Electoral Reform
To address documented vulnerabilities and strengthen future democratic processes, CECOE presented a comprehensive suite of actionable recommendations:
Election Administration & Operations
Downsize Polling Station Ceilings: Reduce station ceilings from 1,500 to 500–700 voters per station, aligning with regional standards (e.g., Kenya, Ghana, Botswana) to eliminate midnight voting extensions, curb poll worker exhaustion, and ensure daylight counting.
Transition to Continuous Voter Registration (CVR): Replace costly periodic nationwide voter registration drives with a permanent, year-round master roll integrated with national digital identification initiatives (such as Fayda).
Grant Observer Portal Access: Provide accredited citizen observer groups with read-only backend access to digital administrative portals to independently verify operational disputes.
Dispute Resolution & Legal Framework
Lower Evidentiary Thresholds: Amend regulations so petitions are not automatically dismissed over missing standardized station forms; permit alternative evidence, such as witness testimonies, when observers or agents are unlawfully evicted.
Publish Complaint Records: Mandate that NEBE publish accessible records documenting all formal complaint resolutions, administrative sanctions, and criminal referrals.
Conflict-Sensitive Party Registration: Temporarily relax signature thresholds for national political parties during verified security crises or active conflict zones to prevent unfair disqualifications.
Inclusion & Gender Equity
Advance Women into Station Leadership: Establish explicit hiring targets and affirmative action quotas to elevate female poll workers into station head positions (up from 26%).
Standardize Accessibility Protocols: Mandate tactile ballot templates, magnifying tools, low voting booths, Braille guides, and sign language interpreters across all voter registration and polling sites.
Campaign Finance & Political Playing Field
Enact Campaign Spending Caps: Enforce statutory campaign spending limits, establish transparent channels for grassroots crowdfunding, and strictly maintain bans on foreign funding to balance political competition.
Institutionalize the Joint Council: Legally institutionalize and expand the Inter-Party Joint Council (PPJC) to regional and local levels to serve as an ongoing dialogue platform.
Media Access & Information Integrity
Protect Public Media Time: Codify free airtime allocation lotteries in law and reserve guaranteed state broadcast slots for NEBE and accredited CSOs to broadcast voter education in local languages.
Upgrade Multi-Platform Monitoring: Modernize tracking technology across broadcast, print, and online channels to safeguard campaign equity and counter digital disinformation.
Plenary Perspectives & Lessons Learned
The interactive Q&A sessions in Adama, Hawassa, and Addis Ababa generated rich debate among participants:
Stakeholder Discussions: Attendees examined the operational trade-offs of lowering polling station voter caps (noting potential logistical challenges for political parties fielding agents across more sites), unutilized campaign airtime by political parties, the necessity of a national population census for accurate boundary delimitation, and mechanisms to guarantee observer non-partisanship.
Direct Political Engagement: Representatives from the Inter-Party Joint Council's Women's Wing urged direct field interviews with female candidates and called for continuous, year-round voter education rather than seasonal campaigns.
Format & Methodological Refinements: Recognizing logistical delays and audience fatigue experienced during the roadshow, CECOE committed to restructuring future dissemination workshops. Future events will cap presentation delivery at 40% of agenda time, prioritize guided discussion groups, adopt visual data formats (such as infographics and short policy briefs), publish reports in local languages (including Amharic), and clearly explain citizen observation methodologies at the outset.
Conclusion & Moving Forward
The Findings Dissemination Workshops marked a major milestone in transforming election observation data into constructive stakeholder engagement. As a non-partisan coalition representing over 190 civil society organizations, CECOE remains dedicated to safeguarding democratic processes, defending voter rights, and fostering institutional transparency across Ethiopia.
CECOE calls upon government authorities, NEBE, political parties, media institutions, and international partners to collaborate in implementing these vital recommendations to strengthen electoral integrity and build public trust in future democratic cycles.
Building lasting peace requires inclusive dialogue, local leadership, and community-driven solutions. To mark International Day of Peace, the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) brought together diverse local voices across three of our Bequ Zega Hub, Adama, Bahir Dar, and Assosa for impactful conversations on peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and social cohesion.
Here is a look at how our hubs celebrated peace in action:
📍 Adama Civic Education Hub CECOE convened students, government officials, media professionals, and traditional elders, including Abba Gadaas and Haadha Siinqees for an open conversation on peace. Beyond the absence of conflict, participants reflected on peace as mutual understanding, respect, and shared responsibility, culminating in a collective Pledge for Peace.
📍 Bahir Dar Hub The hub hosted panel presentations highlighting indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in the Amhara region and the role of media in peacebuilding. Community members and experts actively discussed the opportunities and challenges of utilizing both traditional resolution structures and media as tools for sustainable peace.
📍 Assosa Hub (Benishangul-Gumuz) CECOE gathered leaders from religious councils, women’s and youth associations, disability organizations, and regional development partners for experience-sharing and issue identification. A major highlight was showcasing the documented journey of the Peace Mothers, whose grassroots mediation work demonstrates the transformative impact of community-led interventions.
At CECOE, we believe peace is built every day through dialogue, education, and active civic participation.
🔗 Learn more about our civic engagement programs and join the Bequ Zega movement at https://lnkd.in/emgpGuT6
What if learning about democracy, human rights, elections, and peacebuilding were available in one accessible online space?
Biqu Zega is now available online.
The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) has launched the Biqu Zega E-Learning Platform, a digital space that brings civic learning closer to learners, civic actors, and communities across Ethiopia.
Whether someone is discovering civic engagement for the first time, seeking to understand their rights and responsibilities, or strengthening existing knowledge, Biqu Zega offers an opportunity to learn at their own pace and in a language they understand.
Available in Amharic, Afaan Oromoo, and English, the platform brings together learning resources across six areas:
Civic Engagement
Democracy and Constitutionalism
Governance and Accountability
Human Rights and Inclusion
Electoral Processes
Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion
These areas are closely connected to everyday civic life. They help users explore how people participate in their communities, understand democratic processes, hold institutions accountable, protect human rights, and contribute to peaceful and inclusive societies.
More Than an Online Course Platform
Biqu Zega is part of CECOE’s wider approach to creating spaces for civic learning, dialogue, information sharing, and locally relevant action.
Its purpose goes beyond sharing information. By making civic knowledge more accessible, Biqu Zega seeks to support people in moving from learning to participation—and from understanding civic issues to engaging with them.
A Space to Learn and Engage
Users can explore different topics, discover new areas of interest, and build knowledge that can support meaningful civic participation. The platform is designed for both beginners and those looking to deepen their understanding of civic issues.
Through this initiative, CECOE continues its work to promote inclusive democracy, civic engagement, human rights, and peacebuilding by strengthening civic actors and expanding access to learning opportunities.
Explore the platform and begin your civic learning journey today.
The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE) conducted a four-day series of capacity-building and civic engagement activities under the Civil Society Innovation Fund (CSIF II), funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), from August 5–8, 2026, at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Addis Ababa. The activities brought together participants for discussions and practical sessions focused on project management, grant management, reporting, civic engagement, community challenges, and developing innovative solutions.
Opening Remarks
The sessions commenced with opening statements by Abera Haile Mariam, CECOE’s Executive Director, alongside Project Officer Fikadu Ashuro. They elaborated on the program's goals, indicating the importance of enhancing technical standards while ensuring meaningful, grassroots-level results throughout the initiative.
The first day focused on a Partner Capacity Building Workshop covering project overview, grant management, and reporting requirements. Participants received an overview of the project, the Bequ Zega Hub and Bequ Zega E-learning Platform, as well as sessions on financial management, cost principles, grant management, and compliance requirements.
The workshop also included sessions on communications and visibility materials, safeguarding policy, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), including narrative reporting and change stories. The day concluded with reflection and question-and-answer sessions.
The subsequent sessions focused on innovative problem-solving and civic engagement, with participants engaging in brainstorming activities and working on civic innovation projects, prototyping concepts, and beneficiary journey mapping. Participants also worked on developing a Theory of Change and took part in group exercises and peer review sessions.
The concluding phase focused on the refinement of project concepts, where participants worked on results frameworks, work plans, budgets, concept notes, and pitch presentations. Following a comprehensive evaluation, the activity transitioned toward the next phase of mentoring and continued proposal refinement within the Biqu Zega Hub network.
Key Takeaways
The four-day activity provided participants with practical knowledge and skills in project and grant management, financial management, reporting, safeguarding, and compliance, while also strengthening their understanding of civic engagement and community-driven innovation. Participants had the opportunity to identify community challenges, develop innovative solutions, and work with practical tools for planning, budgeting, and proposal development.
Closing Statement
The activity concluded with a post-training assessment and evaluation, followed by discussions on next steps and the transition to the next phase, including the mentoring and refinement of proposals by the Biqu Zega Hubs. The four-day activity provided a platform for participants to strengthen their capacities, exchange experiences, and further develop ideas aimed at advancing civic engagement. CECOE extends its sincere appreciation to all participating organizations and facilitators for their active engagement, as well as to the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for its continued support under the Civil Society Innovation Fund (CSIF II).
The Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE), with the support of UK International Development, conducted a two-day training for its sub-grantee member organizations from July 31 to 1 August 2026 at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Addis Ababa. The training brought together 30 participants three representatives from each of CECOE's 10 sub-grantee member organizations, representing senior management, programme, and finance functions to strengthen institutional capacity in grant management, financial reporting, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E), while building practical skills in innovative peacebuilding and conflict mitigation at the grassroots level.
The participating organizations included the Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Associations (CCRDA), Omo's Morningstar Children (OMC), Benishangul Gumuz Development Associations Network (BGDAN), Pro Development Network (PDN), Tiret Community Empowerment for Change Association(TCECA), Federation of Ethiopian Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FEAPD), Pastoralist In Action Development Organization (PIADO), Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), Green Initiative Ethiopia (GIA), and Synergy for Community Development (SCD).
Opening Remarks
The training opened with welcoming remarks by Eyuel Zelealem, CECOE's Program Director , who outlined the objectives and expected outcomes of the two-day programme, emphasizing the importance of strengthening both technical compliance and practical, community-level impact.
Day One: Grant Management, Financial Reporting, and M&E
Day one featured five core training modules. The CECOE Programme Team led sessions on grant management and compliance, reviewing the Sub-Grant Agreement article by article, together with the Sub-Grant Manual, roles and responsibilities, prohibited costs, procurement procedures, and audit requirements.
The CECOE Finance Team facilitated two sessions on financial management, covering cost principles, eligible expenditures, supporting documentation, and budget management. Participants also took part in a practical exercise on disbursement requests, financial reporting, and the use of CECOE's reporting templates.
The CECOE Programme Team introduced participants to project monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, including logframes, indicators, and data collection methodologies through a practical exercise.
The day's programme also included a session delivered by CECOE's Safeguarding Focal Person on the organization's Safeguarding Policy, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) principles, and reporting and referral mechanisms. In addition, the Communications Team provided guidance on CECOE and UK International Development branding requirements, visibility reporting, and photo consent procedures.
Day one concluded with a wrap-up session, an interactive question-and-answer discussion, and a briefing on the sub-grantee proposal presentations scheduled for the following day.
Day Two: Innovative Peacebuilding and Conflict Mitigation at the Grassroots Level
The second day focused on practical approaches to peacebuilding and conflict mitigation. Sub-grantee organizations presented their project proposals in two rounds, with each presentation followed by structured peer feedback. A plenary discussion highlighted common innovative peacebuilding strategies and key lessons emerging from the presentations.
The afternoon featured an interactive session on conflict mitigation and peacebuilding planning, during which participants developed context-specific approaches using peacebuilding risk mapping tailored to grassroots realities. This was followed by a collaborative group exercise that enabled participants to apply these approaches to real-world community contexts.
The programme concluded with a joint session on CSO collaboration planning, where participants identified shared peacebuilding and conflict mitigation actions, communication channels, and next steps for future collaboration among member organizations.
Key Takeaways
Grant management, financial reporting, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) were reinforced as essential foundations for transparent and accountable project implementation across CECOE's sub-grantee organizations.
Safeguarding, branding, and visibility requirements were emphasized as integral components of responsible sub-grant management alongside financial and technical compliance.
Sub-grantee organizations shared their peacebuilding proposals, received constructive peer feedback, and strengthened cross-organizational learning.
Participants enhanced their practical skills in designing context-specific peacebuilding and conflict mitigation approaches tailored to grassroots realities.
The training concluded with agreed next steps for continued collaboration among CSOs on shared peacebuilding and conflict mitigation initiatives.
Closing Statement
The training ended with a post-training assessment and evaluation, followed by closing remarks from Yisihak Abebayehu, CECOE's Senior Program Officer. CECOE extends its sincere appreciation to all participating organizations, facilitators, and partners whose active engagement contributed to the success of the training, as well as to UK International Development for its continued support. CECOE remains committed to strengthening the institutional capacity of its member organizations and advancing innovative, community-driven peacebuilding initiatives across Ethiopia.
