Ruth Ditlmann joins research team for Ethiopia’s Host Family Program to combat ethnic prejudice

Launched this summer, the Host Family Program (HFP) is a two-year pilot initiative funded by Funding for International Development and led by the University of Gondar, aimed at reducing ethnic bias in Ethiopia through intergroup contact. The project brings together a diverse team of international and local researchers, including Ruth Ditlmann, Professor of Social Psychology and Public Policy at the Hertie School. Together, the team will study how pairing university students from different ethnic groups with local host families can foster cohesion and reduce ethnic prejudice.

Ethiopia has long been plagued by ethnic tensions, worsened by internal conflicts in regions such as Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia, leading to fear and resentment towards certain ethnic groups. Against this backdrop, the country’s Ministry of Education randomly assigns students to universities outside their home regions, but, as is typical for institutions in conflict and post-conflict settings, instead of fostering integration, many students self-segregate along ethnic lines. The University of Gondar's Host Family Program seeks to bridge these divides by hosting non-Amhara students with local Amhara families, promoting cross-ethnic dialogue.

“Testing intergroup contact theory in a randomised setting outside the typical US and European contexts is essential.” explains Ditlmann. “Almost all existing research on intergroup contact comes from these regions, so we need data from diverse contexts like Ethiopia to better understand how such interactions can reduce prejudice globally. This study is a step towards filling that gap.”

The HFP will be evaluated through a randomised control trial involving 720 students divided into treatment and control groups, as well as 360 host families. Data will be collected via questionnaires and behavioural games to assess whether meaningful, sustained contact between students and host families leads to a reduction in ethnic prejudice and an increase in trust and cooperation.

By facilitating direct interactions at the family and community levels, the HFP aims to combat prejudice and promote peaceful coexistence. The hope is that, by engaging students who may become future leaders, the programme will help shape policymakers dedicated to fostering tolerance among ethnic groups. Should the pilot yield positive results, the programme is set to be rolled out across the region.

For more information on the project and researchers involved, please click here.

The Hertie School is not responsible for any content linked or referred to from these pages. Views expressed by the author/interviewee may not necessarily reflect the views and values of the Hertie School.