The Effect of community Policing on Reducing crime and violence in Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

This exploratory study seeks to investigate the potential of community policing initiatives in reducing crime and violence in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Despite growing interest in community- oriented policing models globally, there remains limited empirical evidence on their effectiveness within the Ethiopian context, particularly in regional urban cities such as Bahir Dar. This preliminary research aims to map existing community policing practices, assess perceptions of community safety, and identify operational challenges and opportunities for improvement.
 

The study will adopt qualitative approach, through interviews and focus group discussions to generate baseline insights. This exploratory phase is designed to inform the development of a rigorous, context-sensitive Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) that would systematically evaluate the causal impact of community policing interventions on crime and violence reduction and community trust in law enforcement. Critically, this research prioritizes collaborative engagement with key local stakeholders, including the Bahir Dar City Police, the Amhara Regional Justice Office, local NGOs, local community and the Ethiopian Civil Service University’s Department of Peace and Security Studies. Through these partnerships, the study aims to ensure contextual relevance, enhance institutional capacity, and foster shared ownership of both the research process and its policy implications. The findings from this exploratory study will lay the groundwork for the co-design of an evidence-based, scalable community policing model tailored to the socio-political realities of Bahir Dar and similar urban settings in Ethiopia.