12/07/2026
Facilitator as a Midwife: Guiding Ethiopia's National Dialogue Toward a Shared Future
A midwife does not create the child. She creates the conditions for safe birth.
Likewise, a facilitator in Ethiopia's National Dialogue does not manufacture consensus, impose solutions, or determine outcomes. The facilitator creates a trusted, respectful, and inclusive space where citizens themselves give birth to understanding, common ground, and a shared national vision.
The facilitator listens before speaking, asks before advising, and guides without controlling. Every voice is treated with dignity, every perspective is heard with respect, and every participant is encouraged to contribute to the collective future of Ethiopia.
Like a skilled midwife, the facilitator:
- Creates a safe environment for honest dialogue.
- Builds trust among participants with diverse views.
- Encourages every participant to express their experiences and aspirations.
- Helps transform conflict into constructive conversation.
- Protects neutrality and fairness throughout the dialogue.
- Supports participants in discovering their own solutions rather than prescribing answers.
- Ensures that the outcomes genuinely belong to the people.
The metaphor of the facilitator as a midwife reflects a long-standing understanding of facilitation: assisting others to bring forward ideas and solutions that emerge through dialogue rather than imposing them from outside.
As Ethiopia advances its National Dialogue, facilitators carry a profound responsibility. They are guardians of the dialogue process—not authors of its conclusions. Their success is measured not by the influence they exercise, but by the confidence, ownership, and trust they inspire among participants.
Ziyad Attorneys
Advancing Justice • Building Trust • Facilitating Dialogue
📍 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
☎️ 091 381 1743
📧 [email protected]