Local Community Assets to Promote Community Policing in Ethiopia

The Case of Gorf Aswogaj Community in Addis Ababa

Abstract

Community policing is a recent strategy in Ethiopia that calls for partnership with communities to address crime problems. Few studies in Ethiopia have examined how community assets can support and work in partnership with community policing. This study explored how community assets could be used to strengthen community policing services in the Gorf Aswogaj community in Addis Ababa. We employed a qualitative research method with a case study design.  Thirteen participants (11 community members and 2 police officers) participated in interviews.  The findings uncovered numerous social assets including community based associations, strong culture of mutual support, and deep rooted habits of attending community based social events. Further, the study revealed existing multiple sources of income such as remittance, small and petty businesses, and renting house, which can be used as economic back-up for community policing. The study also found existing public and private institutions that can be exploited to advance community policing services in the study area. The study concludes that a community strength perspective can be integrated with community policing programs in an effort to build more peaceful and harmonious community as suggested by Asset Based Community Development Model and Normative Sponsorship Theory.