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).
