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Dexis to Promote Religious and Ethnic Tolerance in Ethiopia

Washington, D.C. — Dexis started the implementation of a 21-month grant to promote religious and ethnic tolerance in Ethiopia. Dexis is working with a team of local and international experts to identify and counter dangerous speech in Ethiopia.

Since the liberalization of free speech laws in 2018, enduring and recent grievances between Ethiopian ethnic and religious groups have come to the forefront in the country’s political discourse.  While the opening of civic space has resulted in constructive reform dialogue online, ethnic and religious-based dangerous speech in traditional and online networks has increased, as well. As mobile phone connectivity has expanded throughout Ethiopia, social media has become an increasingly prevalent source of dangerous speech in the country.

“Dexis looks forward to working with our team of local and international partners to promote positive counter messaging on religious and ethnic issues in Ethiopia,” said Mihir Desai, Chief Executive Officer.

Dexis will harness and localize technological developments to track patterns of dangerous speech on social media with partners and regional universities. Working groups comprised of students, as well as a diverse mix of social media influencers and local leaders, will work with Dexis to review patterns of dangerous speech and develop locally resonant online and offline counter-messaging.

Dexis’ partners include Addis Ababa University’s Center for Human Rights, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the Attorney General’s Office, and two regional universities.

Dexis is a global professional services firm focused on solving pressing challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more resilient, secure, and prosperous world. In the last three years alone, more than 500 Dexis professionals have worked in 90 countries, supporting programs in development, diplomacy and national security.

Photo by CHARTON Franck/hemis.fr/Hemis