Project management: Dr. Wolbert Smidt (University Jena), Prof. Dr. James Narendra Bondla (Frobenius-Institute)
Duration: Since 2020
Funding: Gerda Henkel Foundation
The Department of Anthropology was established in 2009 as part of the Institute of Paleo-Environment and Heritage Conservation (IPHC) at Mekelle University in Ethiopia. It offers bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs and conducts research in the fields of social, developmental, medical, and environmental anthropology, as well as paleo-environmental studies. Over time, it has developed into an influential department at Mekelle University. The war between the federal government and the Tigray Regional Government, which began on November 4, 2020, brought life and the education system to a standstill. Even after the Pretoria Peace Agreement in November 2022, the challenges remain. As part of the “Scholars at Risk” project, two doctoral students and a postdoctoral researcher who coordinates the doctoral program at Mekelle University were relocated to the Frobenius Institute.
