Relationships are at the heart of our thinking and our approach at The Global Research Network on Parliaments and People. We are participating in coalitions for change with organisations and movements in Ethiopia and Myanmar that share our commitment towards creating more inclusive democracy. We are honoured to work especially closely with Yangon-based Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation, whose research focuses on governance, justice, politics and inclusion, and Addis Ababa-based Setaweet, a feminist organisation striving for gender equality. Both support those scholars and artists who navigate landscapes that exclude them, their expertise and their voices.
Performing for Peace: Tirainya ko Koisani
Olisarali Olibui is a Mursi (known as Mun to their group) innovator and film-maker experimenting with strategies to draw people’s attention to the marginalisation of his community. What might fuller political representation mean for a group that is so unknown to the Ethiopian public? He made the film Shooting with Mursi with Ben Young and wrote a play with Tesfahun Hailu, as explained in a GRNPP-funded documentary. With further funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and Global Challenges Research Fund, Olisarali and and other colleagues at the South Omo Theatre Company, put on this play at the National Theatre on 31 July 2022. It was shown on national TV and he and Ben Young are now making a film about the whole process. The next step is to use theatre, film and music to create better encounters between indigenous groups in South Omo as well as with the government and other outsiders.
Performing for Peace: Tirainya ko Koisani
Olisarali Olibui is a Mursi (known as Mun to their group) innovator and film-maker experimenting with strategies to draw people’s attention to the marginalisation of his community. What might fuller political representation mean for a group that is so unknown to the Ethiopian public? He made the film Shooting with Mursi with Ben Young and wrote a play with Tesfahun Hailu, as explained in a GRNPP-funded documentary. With further funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and Global Challenges Research Fund, Olisarali and and other colleagues at the South Omo Theatre Company, put on this play at the National Theatre on 31 July 2022. It was shown on national TV and he and Ben Young are now making a film about the whole process. The next step is to use theatre, film and music to create better encounters between indigenous groups in South Omo as well as with the government and other outsiders.
Reducing Inequalities in Public Engagement in Myanmar
Processes of exclusion are found in every democracy in the world; pre-coup Myanmar was no exception. This was a collaboration between scholars and artists to promote inclusive democracy, led by Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation with PositiveNegatives, a not-for-profit producing comics, animations and podcasts, and the SOAS team. RIPE contributed to SDG16 for stronger peace, justice and political institutions and was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Global Challenges Research Fund.
Reducing Inequalities in Public Engagement in Myanmar
Processes of exclusion are found in every democracy in the world; pre-coup Myanmar was no exception. This was a collaboration between scholars and artists to promote inclusive democracy, led by Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation with PositiveNegatives, a not-for-profit producing comics, animations and podcasts, and the SOAS team. RIPE contributed to SDG16 for stronger peace, justice and political institutions and was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Global Challenges Research Fund.
Promoting women scholars in Ethiopia
Ethiopia only has 5 women professors and only 10 of tertiary level educators are women. Setaweet are challenging gendered inequalities in academia and supporting women scholars across Ethiopia, as part of our Deepening Democracy programme, by awarded grants; running training workshops and events; identifying ways to support women scholars to research and publish; holding all-women conferences; and establishing the only feminist journal in Africa: Writing Our Rights.
Promoting women scholars in Ethiopia
Ethiopia only has 5 women professors and only 10 of tertiary level educators are women. Setaweet are challenging gendered inequalities in academia and supporting women scholars across Ethiopia, as part of our Deepening Democracy programme, by awarded grants; running training workshops and events; identifying ways to support women scholars to research and publish; holding all-women conferences; and establishing the only feminist journal in Africa: Writing Our Rights.
Supporting Ethiopian scholars to publish
In October 2019 a British Academy funded writing workshop, co-organised by GRNPP and Mekelle University, enabled researchers from across Ethiopia to meet and establish relationships with publishers, journal editors, and experienced academics. A series of talks, lectures, practical exercises and discussions over four intensive days encouraged participants to convert quality research into finished articles, discuss the means to achieve societal and political impact and learn about opportunities to apply for further research funding.