Citizen to Citizen

ABOUT US

Who We are?

CITIZEN TO CITIZEN

ዜጎች ለዜጎች (Zegoch Lezegoch-ZlZ), known in English as Citizen to Citizen (C2C) Development organization, is a local civil society organization that aims to catalyze and leverage people’s efforts to address the most urgent needs and root causes of poverty.

C2C born in December 2021 after witnessing the large-scale displacement of people caused by ongoing conflict, drought, deprivation, and various other crises. To increase the scale of its work and reach a wider population of communities, C2C adapts a community-led approach named ‘Irsho’. Irsho is the Amharic word for the natural yeast used to make injera and bread (a staple in the Ethiopian diet), an ingredient that stimulates and catalyses growth. The approach works in a similar way, working to change the way people think about and deliver aid and providing microgrants to stimulate growth.

Core principles

First & last responders

Recognize that local people are always the first to act in a crisis and the last to remain during recovery.

Strength-Based

Focusing on capacities and resources, not just needs

Empowermet

Enabling communities to lead their own development

Holistic Response

Addressing social, economic, and psychosocial dimensions.

Sustainability

Building resilience beyond project timelines.

Collaboration

Leveraging partnerships to scale impact.

Social Cohesion & Dignity

Strengthening bonds within communities.

Safe-to-Fail Environment

Encouraging learning and adaptation.

Mindset Change

Shifting from dependency to agency.

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