The Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities (COHA) was signed between the Ethiopian government and Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) on November 2, 2022, after nearly two years of intense conflict. This comprehensive agreement focuses on achieving a permanent halt to hostilities, restoring federal control in the Tigray region, establishing an interim administration until fresh elections, disarming TPLF fighters, providing humanitarian access, restoring essential services, reconciling displaced persons, implementing justice, and aiding recovery. The agreement aims to bring peace to Tigray and surrounding areas, but challenges remain due to high expectations, potential opposition, and the need for detailed implementation.

One of this symposium’s main topic, "Peace support", involves time-limited, localized, integrated civilian initiatives that aim to build trust between communities and legitimate authorities. It seeks to create conditions for recovery, peacebuilding, and development. This approach emphasizes localized actions, quick results, civilian leadership, partnerships, and strengthening political authority. Peace support is critical in fragile contexts, requiring urgent and large-scale efforts to restore normalcy and rebuild the social contract between the state and communities.

The context of Ethiopia's conflict and Peace support involves major humanitarian crises in multiple regions due to the two-year conflict. The wide-ranging Peace Agreement (COHA) was signed on November 2, 2022, which ended active combat and opened the door for restoring services and humanitarian aid. Given this context, the UNDP's "Peace Support Programme/Facility (PSP/F)" is designed to stabilize conditions, restore normalcy, and deliver immediate benefits to conflict-impacted populations. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between urgent needs and longer-term recovery efforts. It's strategically focused on building trust between communities and Ethiopian
authorities under 5 windows related to governance, basic services, economic revival, demobilization, reintegration, and solutions for internal displacement.

The DDR (Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration) program is a key component of the Peace Support Activities. It aims to quickly show tangible benefits of peace by disarming combatants and reintegrating them into society. Challenges include managing expectations, potential pushback, and ensuring effective implementation. Despite these challenges, progress has been made, such as establishing communication hotlines, agreeing on disarmament mechanics, and restoring vital services.

Implementing DDR in Ethiopia is a massive undertaking due to its scale and complexity. The process will involve a large number of beneficiaries, particularly in Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions. DDR's success is vital for building trust in the peace agreement and requires addressing the well-being of communities, including reconciliation efforts, social cohesion, infrastructure rehabilitation, and services restoration. The outcome will impact not only Ethiopia's internal security but also have wider implications. In this event, panelists will exchange opinions on the Peace Support efforts and DDR, with the hope for a sustainable future that does not leave anyone behind.