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Turning Digital Harm into Healing: AI Peacebuilding Initiative Gains Ground in Tigray
Mekelle – October 3, 2025
In the aftermath of conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, a new technology-driven initiative is attempting to counter the spread of misinformation and online hate speech. Sustainable Technology Solutions (STS), an Ethiopian social enterprise, has developed a Tigrigna-language artificial intelligence tool designed to detect harmful content and generate alternative narratives aimed at fostering peace.
The project is being implemented under the “Increasing Resilience to Online and Offline Violence in Ethiopia” program led by ELiDA Ethiopia, in collaboration with Search for Common Ground, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada.
According to organizers, more than 300 individuals have participated in the effort, helping to shape the AI system, verify its outputs, and create messages that promote dignity and reconciliation. The approach seeks to provide communities with tools to respond constructively to harmful digital content while encouraging dialogue and healing.
The initiative has drawn attention beyond Ethiopia. The AI platform has been nominated for the 2025 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Award, highlighting its potential as a model for technology-based peacebuilding in conflict-affected societies.
Observers note that while challenges remain in addressing the deep-rooted consequences of both online and offline violence, the program represents an emerging example of how artificial intelligence can be adapted to local languages and contexts in order to support social cohesion.
