The University of Bradford has beaten off international competition to win a contract to train civil servants to keep the peace in war-torn Ethiopia.

Directors of the university's centre for International Development are to fly to east Africa after proving a massive hit with officials last year.

David Potts and Dr Anand Prathivadi Bhayankaram will train civil servants working for Ethiopia's federal and regional governments.

The aim of the project, which will be held in Debre Zeit, near the capital Addis Ababa, is to help officials broker peace in the country racked by decades of civil war.

They will also be helping officials cope with the growing menace of famine due to the continued shortage of rainfall, which has left thousands of children on the verge of starvation.

The contract comes after the university ran two courses last year for 40 civil servants in Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

After the courses were rated 'excellent' by participants, the centre for International Development - part of the University's School of Social and International Studies - successfully bid to run a further programme of six two-week intensive courses.

Up to 24 civil servants will be taking part, many of whom have never been out of the country.

Topics covered in the courses include: issues in development; designing development policies and projects; decision making in such projects; and participation of stakeholders and civil society.

Mr Potts, speaking on behalf of the team, said: "The main benefit from these courses is in widening access and creating ambassadors of the University across different regions in Ethiopia."

The international relationship has gradually developed as for several years alumni from Ethiopia have come to Bradford to study for a variety of degree courses.