Local peacebuilding · Support for local peacebuilding – the gap between rhetoric and reality 3 Peacebuilding impact 5 This report 7 2 Approach 8 3 Community‑based peace initiatives

Local peacebuilding

What works and why

6 June 2019

i / Local peacebuilding – What works and why

Abbreviations

AMA Assistance Mission for Africa

APD AssociationforPeaceandDevelopment

CAFOB CollectifdesAssociationsetONGsFémininesauBurundi

CSO Civilsocietyorganization

DM&E Design,MonitoringandEvaluation

DRC DemocraticRepublicofCongo

FNJ FederationofNepaliJournalists

NGO Non‑governmentalorganization

PDRC PeaceandDevelopmentResearchCenter

SDG SustainableDevelopmentGoals

UN UnitedNations

YMCA YoungMen’sChristianAssociation

Acknowledgements

Thisisapdfversionofanonlinereportwhichisavailableonlineat:https://www.peaceinsight.org/reports/whatworks

ThisresearchwasconductedandthefinalreportwrittenbyPhilVernonundertheguidanceofasteeringgroupconsistingofJessicaBaumgardner‑Zuzik,ElizabethHume,DylanMathews,BridgetMoixandSarahPhillips.TheresearchbenefitedfromsupportbyMohamedIsmail,VaheMirikianandShaziyaNetto,andwewouldalsoliketothankKenBarlowforeditorialsupport.Theauthorretainsfinalresponsibilityforallerrorsoffactorjudgement.Weacknowledgeandthankalltheorganizationswhocontributedsourcedocuments,andparticularlythosewhokindlyagreedtotheinclusionofreferencestotheirworkinthetext.

ThisreportwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutgenerousfinancialsupportfromMiltLauensteinandourcorporatepartner,Away.

https://www.peaceinsight.org/reports/whatworks

Local peacebuilding – What works and why / ii

PrefaceAlthoughtheGlobalPeaceIndexrecordedthefirstincreaseinglobalpeacefulnessinfiveyearsin2019,thefactsonthegroundinmanycountriesspeaktoadifferentreality;onewherecommunitiesarebeingtornapartbyviolencethatwasbothavoidableand,inmanycases,predictable.Inthepastmonth,continuedviolenceincentralMalithreatenstospiraloutofcontrol,withthelatestattackresultnginthedeathsofscoresofpeople.InMay,theUNestimatesthat300,000peoplefledtheviolenceinIturiprovinceinDRC,hamperingtheongoingEbolaresponseefforts.AndinSriLanka,theEasterSundayterroristattackshaveledtoaseriesofretaliationsagainstMuslimcommunitiesacrossthecountry,withover1,000MuslimrefugeesoriginallyfromPakistan,IranandAfghanistanfleeingjustonetown.Allthewhiletheglobalnumberofrefugeescontinuesgrowingtounprecedentedlevelsaspeoplefleeviolentconflict.

Whatlinkstheexamplesabove,andmanyothercountriesexperiencingviolencerightnow,istheproliferationofopportunitiestobuildpeacethatareroutinelybeingoverlookedbytheinternationalcommunity.Whilehighlevelnegotiationsdooftenstall,therearecountlessopportunitiestosupportbottomuppeacebuildinginsomeofthemostviolentcontextsrightnow.Localpeacebuildingactorsareprotectingvulnerablepeople,resolvinglocaldisputes,preventingdisplacementsandsavinglives.

AtPeaceDirectwehavebeendedicatedtosupportingandstrengtheninglocalcapacitiesforpeacesinceourfoundingoverfifteenyearsago.Thepremiseunderpinningourworkisthatlocalpeopleworkingtostopviolenceandbuildpeaceintheircommunitiesremainthegreatestsourcesofuntappedpeacebuildingpotentialglobally.Whiletherhetoricaroundsupportinglocalpeacebuildingeffortsisslowlychanging,internationalandnationalpoliciesand

practicearenotkeepingup.Acombinationofbureaucraticinefficiency,systemicinertia,riskaversion,concernsaboutscale,capacity,effectivenessandimpact,andalackofcontextualunderstandingstillhamperseffortstoprovidetimely,flexiblesupporttolocalpeacebuildingefforts.Inaddition,existingpolicycommitmentsattheUNlevelhavenotyetbeenoperationalized.

Thisreport,ajointcollaborationbetweenPeaceDirectandtheAllianceforPeacebuilding,aimstoaddressoneofthequestionsweoftenhearfrompolicymakersanddonorsaroundtheeffectivenessoflocalpeacebuildingefforts.Ifconcernsabouttheeffectivenessoflocaleffortsisoneofthereasonsforthelackofinvestmentbygovernmentsandmultilateralinstitutions,wehopethatouranalysisofover70evaluationscollectedfromadiverserangeoforganizationsandcontextsacrosstheworldwillhelpstrengthenthecaseforsupport.Theexamplesinthisreportandtheaccompanyingwebsitenotonlyspeakofremarkableheroism;theydemonstratetangibleimpactsonthegroundinplaceswhereviolenceisoftendismissedasendemic.FromreducingviolentconflictinSudanandeasternDRCongotoprotectingvillagesfromattackinColombia,thesestorieshighlightwhatispossible,eveninplaceswherenationallevelpeaceprocesseshavestalled.

ThisyearattheUNHighLevelPoliticalForuminNewYork,memberstateswillreviewprogressmadetowardsSDG16.WebelievethatSDG16cannotbeachievedwithoutgreaterlevelsofparticipationbyandsupportforlocalpeacebuildingefforts.Localizationisnowaprominentthemewithinthehumanitariansector.Let’sstarttalkingaboutlocalizingpeaceandinvestinginitnow.

Dylan Mathews CEOPeaceDirect

iii / Local peacebuilding – What works and why

Contents

Abbreviations i

Acknowledgements i

Preface ii

1 Introduction 1Supportforlocalpeacebuilding–thegapbetweenrhetoricandreality 3Peacebuildingimpact 5Thisreport 7

2 Approach 8

3 Community‑based peace initiatives 10Localdisputeandconflictresolution 11Longer‑termimpactsonstabilityandpeacefulco‑existence 12Sustainablemechanismsthatcontributetolong‑termresilience 16Lessonslearned 19

4 Initiatives led by, or engaging, specific groups 24Helpingpeoplewhohavebeentraumatizedbyconflict 25Youngpeople 27Women 31Lessonslearned 33

5 Shaping public discourse and policy, and early‑warning networks 36Shapingpublicdiscourse 37Changingpublicpolicyanddecision‑makingmechanisms 40Earlywarning,earlyintervention 42Lessonslearned 44

6 Findings and recommendations 46Whathelpslocalpeacebuildingsucceed? 48Challenges 51Areasandmechanismsforsupport 53Recommendations 56

Local peacebuilding – What works and why / 1

1 Introduction

Peacebuilding, and especially local peacebuilding, is needed more than ever if the world is to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. Having reviewed evaluations of over 70 local initiatives, this report finds that they make a significant and essential impact on peace, and deserve more support.

1 StevenPinker,The Better Angels of Our Nature: The Decline of Violence in History and Its Causes,NewYork:Viking,2011.2 MontyG.MarshallandGabrielleC.Elzinga‑Marshall,‘GlobalReport2017:Conflict,Governance,andStateFragility’,Centrefor

SystemicPeace,2017;K.Dupuy,S.Gates,H.M.Nygård,I.Rudolfensen,H.StrandandH.Urdal,‘TrendsinArmedConflict,1946–2014’,PeaceResearchInstituteOslo,2016.

3 OECD,States of Fragility 2018,Paris:OECDPublishing,2018.4 InstituteforEconomics&Peace,‘GlobalPeaceIndex2018:MeasuringPeaceinaComplexWorld’,June2018.Availablefrom:

http://visionofhumanity.org/reports5 UnitedNationsandWorldBank,Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict,Washington,DC:WorldBank,2018.

Inmanyrespects,theworldhasbecomemorepeaceful.1Thenumberandmagnitudeofarmedconflictsdeclinedsteeplybetween1990and2003,amidimprovementsinlocalandinternationalpeacemaking.2

Morerecently,however,thistrendhasgoneintoreverse.In2016,morecountriesexperiencedviolentconflictthanatanytimeintheprevious30years,withnearly26,000peopledyingfromextremistattacks,and560,000peoplelosingtheirlivesduetoviolence.3TheGlobalPeaceIndexfor2018showedpeacehaddeterioratedforthefourthyearinsuccession.4WhilethisisfeltmostacutelyinpartsofAsia,theMiddleEastandAfrica,therealityisthatarmedviolenceaffectspeopleonallcontinents,witharoundfiftyintra‑stateandinterstateconflictsactivein2016.5Suchconflictsinflictwidespreaddeath,woundingandtrauma,aswellasunderminingtheresilience,well‑beinganddevelopmentprospectsoffamilies,communitiesandentiresocieties.

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16Promotepeacefulandinclusivesocietiesforsustainabledevelopment,provideaccesstojusticeforall,andbuildeffective,accountableandinclusiveinstitutionsatalllevels.

SDG 16 peace targetSignificantlyreduceallformsofviolenceandrelateddeathrateseverywhere:Lesshomicides,conflict‑relateddeaths,peoplesubjectedtophysical,psychologicalorsexualviolence,andmorepeoplethatfeelsafewalkingalonewheretheylive.

2018 UN report on progress‘Manyregionsoftheworldcontinuetosufferuntoldhorrorsasaresultofarmedconflictorotherformsofviolencethatoccurwithinsocietiesandatthedomesticlevel.’

http://visionofhumanity.org/reports

2 / Local peacebuilding – What works and why

1 Introduction

Itisthereforewelcomethatpeacebuildinghasagrowingroleininternationalaid.PeaceisprominentlyincludedintheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs),6 andisthefocusofmajornewinternationalpolicies.TherecentflagshipdocumentPathways to Peace,producedjointlybytheUnitedNations(UN)andtheWorldBank,callsfor‘ashiftawayfrommanagingandrespondingtocrisesandtowardpreventingconflict.’7Thisreflectscommitmentsmadebymanyotherinternationalorganizations,includingmajoraiddonors,andtherecognitionthatachievingtheSDGsdependsonachievingpeace.8

6 UNSustainableDevelopmentGoalsKnowledgePlatform.See:https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg167 UnitedNationsandWorldBank,Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict,Washington,DC:WorldBank,2018.8 PathfindersforPeacefulandJustandInclusiveSocieties,‘TheRoadmapforPeaceful,JustandInclusiveSocieties:ACalltoActiontoChange

OurWorld’,CenteronInternationalCooperation,2017.Availablefrom:https://cic.nyu.edu/programs/sdg16plus

Peaceisthefruitofsustainedandlong‑termpeacebuildingeffortsbycommunities,governments,civilsociety,businesses,internationalorganizationsandintergovernmentalbodies.Whilepeacebuildinginvolvesusingnon‑violentactionstostop,reduceorpreventimmediateviolence,thisisneverenoughinitself,asviolencecanall‑too‑readilyrecur.Peacebuildingthereforeencompasseslonger‑terminitiativesthatcontributetoresilience,makingconflictslesslikelyinthefuture,andstrengtheningpeople’sandsocieties’abilitytohandlethosethatdowithoutresortingtoviolence.

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg16

https://cic.nyu.edu/programs/sdg16plus


1 Introduction

Support for local peacebuilding – the gap between rhetoric and reality

9 UnitedNations(UN),‘AnAgendaforPeace:PreventiveDiplomacy,PeacemakingandPeace‑keeping:ReportoftheSecretary‑GeneralPursuanttotheStatementAdoptedbytheSummitMeetingoftheSecurityCouncilon31January1992,A/47/277’,1992.

10 RosiePinnington,‘LocalFirstinPractice:UnlockingthePowertoGetthingsDone’,PeaceDirect,2014;SéverineAutesserre,‘InternationalPeacebuildingandLocalSuccess:AssumptionsandEffectiveness’,International Studies Review(2017)19(1):114–32;UNSecurityCouncilResolution2282(2016),SustainingPeace.

11 SéverineAutessere,The Trouble with the Congo: Local Violence and the Failure of International Peacebuilding,NewYork,NY:CambridgeUniversityPress,2010;‘LocalPeacebuilding:APrimer’,PeaceDirect.

12 UnitedNationsandWorldBank,Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict,Washington,DC:WorldBank,2018.

InternationalpeaceinitiativeshavebecomeincreasinglyprominentsincetheUNSecretary‑Generalannouncedpeacebuildingasapriorityin1992.9Thesearecriticalfornegotiatingpeaceagreements,keepingthepeacebetweenwarringparties,andinfurnishingpolitical,financialandtechnicalsupport.Internationalinterventionsalone,though,areinsufficient.Asisincreasinglyunderstoodandwidelyagreed,peaceisonlysustainablewhenitisdrivenandledlocally,thatis,bythepeopleandinstitutionsofthecountryorcountriesconcerned.10Thisisbecausepeaceisonlylikelytobesustainedwhenlocalpeopletakethelead.11Theyknowthecontextwellenoughtojudgewhatmeasuresmightwork,andhavetheknowledge,relationshipsandmotivationneededtoensuretheydowork,especiallyoverthelongerterm.

Stabilitycreatedbyoutsiders,howeverwelcomeintheshortterm,lacksboththemettleandresilienceofapeaceforgedinthecrucibleoflocaldynamicsandcompromises.

Thistruismiswidelyembeddedinpolicyrhetoric,whichoftenemphasizesinclusivepeaceprocessesandlocalengagement.However,suchrhetoricisnotsufficientlyreflectedinmoredetailedplans,muchlessintheactionsoftheinternationalorganizationsthatplaysuchadominantroleinpeaceprocesses.

Forexample,eventhoughPathwaystoPeacehighlightstheneedfor‘inclusiveengagementatalllevels’,theimportanceoflocalpeacebuildersisnotreflectedinthesamedocument’sdetailedprescriptionforhowtopromotepeace.12

Local peacebuildingLocalpeacebuildinginthisreportreferstopeacebuildinginitiativesownedandledbypeopleintheirowncontext.Itincludessmall‑scalegrassrootsinitiatives,aswellasactivitiesundertakenonawiderscale.PeaceDirectdistinguishesbetweeninitiativesthatare(1)locallyledandowned,wherelocalpeopleandgroupsdesigntheapproachandsetpriorities,whileoutsidersassistwithresources;(2)locallymanaged,wheretheapproachcomesfromtheoutside,butis“transplanted”tolocalmanagement;or(3)locallyimplemented,primarilyanoutsideapproach,includingexternalprioritiesthatlocalpeopleororganizationsaresupposedtoimplement.

Locally led & owned

More local ownership Less local ownership

Locally managed

Locally implemented


1 Introduction

Thisgapbetweenrhetoricandrealitymattersenormously,becauseinternationalorganizationshaveapreponderantinfluenceonpolicyandprogramminginconflictandpost‑conflictenvironments.Thisisduetothenatureoftheirmandates,thelargebudgetsattheirdisposal,andtherelativefragilityoflocalinstitutions.Meanwhile,forpoliticalreasons,nationalleadersoftenignoreormarginalizelocalvoicesandinitiatives,meaningtheybecomeoverlydependentonexternalsupport.Therefore,wheninternationalorganizationsfailtoliveuptotheirpolicyrhetoric,localinitiativescanbestarvedofsupport,andopportunitiestopromoteandconsolidateasustainablepeacelost.

Internationalorganizationsneglectlocalinitiativesforthreeprinciplereasons.First,manyinternationalorganizationsimplicitlybiasedtowardsformal,short‑term,output‑orientedprogramming,andsupportingorganizationstheyalreadyknow.Thisprejudiceisexacerbatedbyaninstitutionalaversiontorisk–internationalorganizationsoftenlackconfidencethatlocalorganizationswillimplementprogrammesandstewardresourceseffectively–andbythelimitationsimposedduetotheirpartnershipswithhostgovernments.

‘International peacebuilding failed in the Democratic Republic of Congo because the reigning peacebuilding culture precluded attention to local conflicts. The dominant paradigm emphasized “top down” interventions at national and regional levels and viewed local conflicts simply as a consequence of weak state authority.’

– Peacebuilding expert Séverine Autessere

Second,manyinternationalorganizationsfinditoperationallydifficulttocollaboratewithlocalinitiatives.Limitedknowledgeandunderstandingoflocalcontextmeansmanylocalactorsandinitiativesareinvisibletothem.Additionally,operationalconstraintssuchasfunding,contractingcriteria,resultsframeworksandtheneedtominimizetransactioncostsmakeitdifficulttosupportwhatareoftenquitesmall‑scaleactivities,manytakingplacefarfromthecapitalcity.

Third,thereisalimitedbodyofpublishedandpubliclyrecognizedevidencedemonstratingthesuccessoflocalinitiatives,whichmakesitdifficulttoallocateresourcestothem.Thisisexacerbatedbyaprevalentunderstandingthat‘successful’peacebuildingmeanshavinganimpactonhighlyvisible,high‑levelnationalpeaceorpoliticalprocesses.

‘[Peacebuilding is] an enduring work that needs patience, time and lifelong relationships. The international community can support this work by coming alongside us, instead of not listening and doing their own work without us. It is our communities and our people who know what we need the most.’

– South Sudanese peacebuilder

Whilethisreportwillarguethatthefirstandsecondoftheseconstraintsneedtobeaddressed,itisprincipallyconcernedwiththethird.Itpresentsclearevidenceoftheimpactsofexternallyevaluatedlocalpeacebuildinginitiativesfromdiversecontexts,withtheaimofconvincingdecision‑makersintheinternationalaidsystemtopaymoreattentionto,andprovidemoresupportto,localinitiatives.Suchinitiativesareessentialcomponentsofviolencepreventionandreduction,aswellaslonger‑termpeacebuilding.


1 Introduction

Peacebuilding impact

13 PhilVernon,‘RedressingtheBalance:WhyWeNeedMorePeacebuildinginanIncreasinglyUncertainWorld’,InternationalAlert,2017;PeaceDirectandInclusivePeaceTransitionInitiative,‘CivilSociety&InclusivePeace:KeyInsightsandLessonsfromaGlobalConsultationConvenedonPeaceInsight’,February2019.

Peaceisthecumulativeimpactofmanydifferentpeacebuildingcontributions,initiatedatalllevels,whetherthatbeincommunities,nationallyorinternationally.13 Itsdurabilityisinfluencedbyglobal,regional,national,sub‑nationalandcommunity‑levelfactors,allofwhichcaneitherundermineorsustainit.Everycontextisdifferent,andeverypeaceprocessmustreflectthat.

Becauseofthiscomplexity,itisseldomclearhowdifferentinitiativesandcontributionsadduptosustainablepeaceonawiderscale,orwhathasbeencalled‘peacewritlarge’.Nevertheless,enoughisknownabouthowpeacetakesroottoidentifywithconfidenceindividualcontributionsintheshorterterm.Toprovideameasureofcoherenceintheevaluationofdiverseactions,theyareoftenevaluatedintermsofthreedomains,andatthreelevels,asshowninFigure1.Thethreelevelsaresomewhatprogressive,inthatchangesinknowledgeandattitudescanbetheprecursortochangedbehavior,whichisinturntheprecursortostructuralchanges.Thethreedomainsareanecessarysimplificationofthehighlycomplexfactorsthatenablesustainablepeace.

PeacebuildingPeacebuildingdescribesthemyriadmethodsemployedbypeopleallovertheworldtoimproveprospectsforpeace.Peacebuildingincludesawiderangeofinitiatives,frommediation,protection,reintegration,traumahealingandreconciliation,throughtolonger‑terminvestmentsinfaireraccesstogovernance,education,health,justice,securityandlivelihoods.In2018,PeaceDirectandtheInclusivePeaceTransitionInitiativeaskedpeacebuildersfromacrosstheworldtodescribepeacebuilding.Herearesomeofthethingstheysaid:

• Addressingtherootcausesofviolentconflict;

• Addressingsocio‑economicinequality;• Creatingspacesforchange;• Empoweringpeoplewiththemeansandspacetodeveloptheirownsolutionstoconflict;

• Buildingtrust,dialogueandreconciliation;

• Creatingacultureofpeace;• Anchoringglobalpoliciesinlocalrealities;

• Meetinghumansecurityneeds–fromwatertophysicalsecurity.


Figure 1. Three domains and three levels of peacebuilding impact, with generic illustrations

Levels →

Domains ↓

Changes in knowledge and attitudes

Changes in behavior Structural changes (norms, systems, institutions)

Violence prevented, reduced or stopped

Improvedunderstandingoftheunderlyingcausesofviolenceamongthoseaffected

Peoplestopusingviolence,andadoptothermethodstoresolveconflicts

Violenceearlywarningandearlyresponsesystemsadopted

Horizontal relationships between and among people and peoples improved

Greaterempathytowards,andunderstandingof,peoplefrom‘other’groups

Peopleexhibitingandcallingforacceptanceofothers;activecollaborationunderway

Collaborativeapproachesinplacetomanageconflictoversharedresources

Vertical relationships between people and those with authority and power improved

Betterunderstandingamongpeopleandauthoritiesofeachother’srolesandchallenges

Governmentsconsultingpeople,andcivilsocietyengagingwithgovernments,leadingtolessconfrontation

Formalsystemsforpublicconsultation,democraticgovernanceandnon‑violentmanagementofconflictadopted


This report

14 Thisisnot,however,toignoretheimportanceandimpactofpeacebuildinginnortherncountries–forexampleinNorthernIreland,theBasquecountry,andtheUSA,wherepeacebuildingmethodshavebeenusedsuccessfullytoreducepolitical,inter‑ethnicandgang‑relatedviolence.

Thisreportarguesthatmoresupportforlocalpeacebuildingisneeded,andhighlightsexamplesofeffectivelocalinitiativesinsupportofthisclaim.Tocounterthescepticismsomedecision‑makersexpressabouttheimpactoflocalpeacebuilding,thereportisconfinedtoexamplesthathavebeenobjectivelyassessedbyexternalevaluatorsorresearchers.Asakeyconcernistoimprovetheallocationofoverseasaid,theexamplesarelimitedtotheGlobalSouth,whereaidmoneyisspent.14

Afterashortaccountofourresearchapproach,thereportexplorespeacebuildingimpactsinrespectofthreebroadheadings,withachapteroneach:

• Community‑basedpeaceinitiatives;• Initiativesledby,orengagingspecificgroups,suchaswomen,youthandtraumatizedpeople;

• Initiativesthatadvocateimprovednationalpoliciesanddiscourse,orearly‑warningnetworks.

‘A peace that is imposed on people from above is a short-lived peace, but a peace that comes from the people is a lasting peace.’

– Unnamed evaluation interviewee, Somalia

Whilethesecategoriesarefarfromexhaustive,theyreflectthemainthemesthatemergefromthedataavailable,andtogetherpaintapictureofthecreativeandcourageousapproachespeopleareusingtomakeadifferenceintheirlocalcontext.Followingthesethreechapters,thereisadiscussionofthemainfindings,whichisinturnfollowedbyrecommendationsaddressedtointernationalaidorganizations,astheyconsiderhowstepuptheireffortstomeetSDG16by2030.


2 Approach

Desk research was undertaken between February and April 2019. This comprised analysis of independent assessments of local peacebuilding initiatives, obtained as follows:

• AcallwassentoutbyPeaceDirectandtheAllianceforPeacebuilding,followedupbydirectrequests,toover1,600localandinternationalpeacebuilders,requestingcopiesofevaluations;

• Otherdatabasesweresearched,includingevaluationsheldbytheAllianceforPeacebuilding,andtheDM&EforPeaceandInternationalInitiativeforImpactEvaluationwebsites;

• Additionalmaterialsweresourcedthroughsearchesontheinternet.

Thesedocuments–251inall–weresiftedtodeterminetheirrelevanceforthestudy.Documentswereconsideredrelevantiftheyclearlyconcerned‘local’initiativesasdefinedforthisstudy,withanexplicitfocusonmakingacontributiontopeace;werewrittenbyindependentthirdparties;werecredibleinthatthereportedresultsappearedproportionatetothestrategiesused,basedontheresearchers’experience;andreflectedarigorousevaluationapproach.

Basedonthesecriteria,57reports,or23%ofthesample,wereeligible.Thesewerereviewedinmoredetail,providingthesubstancearoundwhichthereportwasprepared.Initiativesin23countriesarereferredtodirectlyinthereport.Organizationscitedinthispaperwerecontactedfortheirapproval,unlesstheinformationwasalreadyfreelyavailableinpublishedform.Insomecases,informationhasbeenanonymizedtoprotectthoseinvolved.

Localpeaceinitiativesincludetheactionsofnationalandsub‑nationalgovernments,traditionalleaders,businesspeople,religiousinstitutions,civilsocietyandindividuals.However,nineintenoftheevaluationsconcernedcivilsocietyinitiatives,andthereportisfocusedonthose.


Caveats

Timeandresourceconstraintslimitedthesizeoftheresearchsample,andmadeitimpossibletoground‑truththeevaluationfindings,norestablishifimpactshadbeensustainedinlateryears.ThesamplewasskewedtowardsAfrica,whichrepresentedovertwo‑thirdsoftheeligiblereports(seeFigure2).Itprobablyalsocontainsapositivebias,giventhatthecallforevaluationswasexplainedinthecontextofasearchforevidenceofpeacebuildingimpact,whichwouldhavebeeninterpretedtomean‘positiveimpact’.Additionally,givenmanylocalinitiatives,especiallysmallerones,arenotroutinelyevaluated,thedatasetwasbiasedtowardsinitiativessupportedbyinternationalprogrammes.15

Furthermore,theresearchwaslimitedtoformalinitiativesconductedwiththemainintentionofbuildingpeace.Thisignoresthemassofinformalinitiatives,aswellasthoseconductedwithadifferentprimaryintention,bothofwhichmakeimportantcontributionstopeace.

Despitetheselimitations,thesamplewassufficientlyrobusttodevelopsomeclearconclusionsandrecommendations.Nevertheless,therecommendationssetoutinChapter6includeacallforfurtherevaluationstobothbroadenanddeepentheknowledgebaseaboutlocalpeacebuilding.

15 Unfortunately,formostoftheseitwasimpossibletotellifthelocalpartnersweregenuinelyimplementingtheirowninitiatives,oriftheyweremerely‘implementingpartners’,executingothers’plans.Thesecaseswerethereforeexcluded,eventhoughsomemaywellhaveincludedinitiativeswhichweregenuinelylocallyled.

Figure 2. Geographical distribution of initiatives analysed in this research

11%

Americas Asia

Europe

Sub-saharan Africa

Middle East/North Africa

14%

5%

3%

67%


3 Community‑based peace initiatives

Grassroots peace initiatives based on local community structures are extremely common, and well‑represented in the evaluations used for this report. The structures, which take different forms, are sometimes called peace committees, but have a variety of other names. They are ‘local’ in the purest sense of the word, typically covering a neighbourhood or district, and bring together a representative selection of voices to resolve specific problems that have the potential to cause conflict and violence. They reflect the underlying dynamics of their communities, and often collaborate with and build on existing local power structures and processes. They define and follow a set of rules and procedures to maximize objectivity and fairness. They are often inclusive, involving women and men of different ages, and members of different ethnic communities and economic interest groups, along with local leaders. Over the medium and long term, they can enhance trust and collaboration within and across communities.

ThischapterdrawsonevaluationsoflocalpeacecommitteesintheDemocraticRepublicofCongo(DRC),Burundi,Nigeria,SudanandSouthSudan.Theseoperateagainstabackgroundofchronicandunresolvedconflict,andinadequatehigher‑levelgovernance.Theyareparticularlygoodatresolvingdisputesovernaturalresources,whicharecommonineconomiesbasedonfarmingandlivestock.

Italsodrawsonaslightlydifferentcase,whichinvolvesColombianfarmersintheCararevalleysettingupanassociation(LaAsociacióndeTrabajadoresCampesinosdelCarare)designedtoprotectlocalcommunitiesfromallthreearmedgroups–rebelguerrillas,paramilitariesandthearmy–inasustained,triangularconflict.

Thechapteralsoreferstolocalpeacestructuresestablishedtopromoterecoveryandhealinginpost‑conflictenvironments,suchasLiberiaandSierraLeone,whereyearsofconflicthaveengendereddeepmistrust;andinpartsofKenya,wherethethreatofviolentextremismisanimportantconflictissue.

Below,someoftheimpactsoflocalpeacestructuresaredescribedunderthreeheadings:Localdisputeandconflictresolution;longer‑termimpactsonstabilityandpeacefulco‑existence;andsustainablepeaceandresiliencemechanisms.


Local dispute and conflict resolution

16 GumaKundaKomey,‘EvaluationoftheProcess,OutcomesandImpactoftheCfPS‑RRFandPCsinLocalPeace‑buildingandConflictResolutionsinSouthandWestKordofan,Sudan’,2017.

17 MichelleSpearing,‘AddressingStateFragilityfromtheBottomUpThroughInclusiveCommunityGovernance:ExploringTheoriesofChange’,CARENederland,2016.

18 AlexisM.GardellaandEricKalaba,‘CitizenshipAndPeacebuildingInTheDemocraticRepublicOfCongo:FinalEvaluation’,March2009.19 OliverKaplan,‘ProtectingCiviliansinCivilWar:TheInstitutionoftheATCCinColombia’,Journal of Peace Research(2003)50(3):351–67.

Themandateofmostcommunity‑basedpeacestructuresistoresolvelocalconflictsnon‑violently.Amongtheissuestheydealwitharedisputesoveraccesstonaturalresources,politicalviolencelinkedtoelections,andviolenceperpetratedbyarmedgroups.

EvaluationsshowthatpeacecommitteesinSouthKordofaninSudanhavesuccessfullyresolvedmanyconflictsbetweenfarmersandherders,wherethelatter’sanimalsweredamagingvitalcrops(seeCaseStudy2).Inothercases,theyresolveddisputesbetweenpastoralistgroups,preventingoutbreaksofviolencelinkedtodisputesoverwomenand,inatleastonecase,murder.Inonesituation,theymediatedbetweentwopastoralistgroupsthathadthreatenedtoattackoneanother,preventingtheconflictfromescalating.Toputthisinperspective,anearlier,similarcasehadresultedin150deaths.16

Elsewhere,inBurundi,localpeacegroupspreventedandreducedelectoralviolence.‘Peaceclubs’inanumberofcommunitiesmobilizedcitizenstoreporttheriskorincidenceofelectoralviolenceassoonasitoccurred,callinginlocalsecurityservicesandcivicleaderstointervene.Localauthorityrepresentativesobservedasignificantreductioninviolencebetweenthe2010and2015electionsincommunitieswherepeaceclubshadbeenestablished.17

‘The conference outcomes had a direct impact on my personal and family security. My farm is a bit far from the village. Last year, and this year before the conference, I and other members of my family, while on the farm faced several incidents of threats from masked and armed men allowing their cattle to enter into the farm and damaging crops. The implementation of the conference resolution has put an end to this through public awareness raising among pastoralists, especially youth.’

– Adam Aliheimir Jibteel, farmer from El Tokmah, Sudan

Localpeacestructurestakeonparticularsignificanceinchronicallyunstablecontexts,wheretheycanfindthemselvesconductingsensitiveanddangerousnegotiationswitharmedgroups.Thisrequiresreservesofcourageandskill,butcanpaydividendsforlocalsecurity.IneasternDRC,anevaluationteamfoundthatpeacecommitteeshadengagedindialogueandadvocacywitharmedmilitiasoperatingnearby,reducingtensionsandtheriskofviolenceatrebelroadblocks.18Thiswasparticularlyimportantduetothethreatofsexualandotherviolencebymilitiamembers,andbecausefearwaspreventingpeoplefromaccessingtheirfieldsandmarkets,undermininglocallivelihoods.Inanotherexample(seealsoCaseStudy1),apeasants’associationintheCalareValleyinColombiaprotecteditsmembersovermanyyearsbynegotiatinganagreementwitharmedgroupleaders.19


Longer‑term impacts on stability and peaceful co‑existence

20 GumaKundaKomey,‘EvaluationoftheProcess,OutcomesandImpactoftheCfPS‑RRFandPCsinLocalPeace‑buildingandConflictResolutionsinSouthandWestKordofan,Sudan’,PeaceDirect,2017.

21 RosemaryCairns,‘AnEvaluationof“StrengtheningLocallyLedPeacebuilding”’,PeaceDirect,May2011.22 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.23 ChristianAid,‘InItFortheLongHaul?:LessonsonPeacebuildinginSouthSudan’,2018.

Asimportantasresolvingspecificdisputesis,theimpactofcommunitypeacestructuresgoesbeyondthistocreateamorestableenvironmentoftrust,stabilityandcollaboration.Bydemonstratingthatproblemscanbesatisfactorilyandfairlyresolved,theiractionsreducetheincentivefordisputingparties–andtheirrespectivenetworksandconstituencies–toactpre‑emptivelyandaggressively.Insodoing,communitystructurespreventsmalldisputesfromescalating,andcanbeinstrumentalinatrocityprevention(seeFigure3).

AnevaluationofpeacecommitteesinSudanfoundtheyhad‘contributedsignificantlytoeffectiveandsustainableprevalenceoflocalpeaceandsocialco‑existence,andtopositivechangesinattitudesandbehaviorsamongcommunitymembers’.20Studieshavenotedsimilarphenomenaelsewhere,forexampleimprovedintra‑communityrelationsineasternDRC,21betweenMuslimandChristiancommunitiesinNigeria,andbetweenclansinKenya.22

Datafromthreecontexts(seeFigure4)illustratethisfurther,highlightingchangesinattitudesandbehaviors,aswellasthehighpercentageofproblemsresolvedandofresidentswhofelttheyweresaferandhadbetterlocalrelationships.Thesearesignificantresultsincontextsofchronic,unresolvedconflict,orintheuneasypeacefollowingtheendofcivilwar.

Figure 3. Illustrating the potential consequences if a local incident is not addressed in a timely fashion23


24 Integrity,‘FinalReport:EvaluationoftheCFPSRapidResponseFundandPeaceCommitteeModelinSudan’,2012,citedinPaulvanTongeren,‘PotentialCornerstoneofInfrastructuresforPeace?HowLocalPeaceCommitteesCanMakeaDifference’,Peacebuilding(2013)1(1):1–31.

25 FambulTokmeans‘familytalk’inKrio,andisthegenericnamegiventoanetworkofcommunitypeacestructuresestablishedtofosterreconciliationbyaSierraLeoneanNGOaftertheendofthecivilwar.

26 MohammedAbu‑NimerandSusanShepler,‘FambulTokProgramEvaluation’,April2015.27 AllanaPoole,‘BarazaJustice:ACaseStudyofCommunity‑LedConflictResolutionintheD.R.Congo’,PeaceDirect,201428 JacobusCilliers,OeindrillaDubaandBilalSiddiqui,‘CantheRuinsofWarbeHealed?ExperimentalEvidencefromSierraLeone’,Impact

EvaluationReport75,InternationalInitiativeforImpactEvaluation,May2018.29 ‘Portals2PeaceandNationalActionPlanEvaluationreport,2019’,AssistanceMissionforAfricaandPAX,2019.

Figure 4. Selected statistics demonstrating the breadth and depth of local peace improvements

Kordofan, Sudan• InoverhalfofpeacecommitteeinterventionsinSouthKordofan,communitiesthathadpreviouslyfoughtalongsideoneofthepartiestoaconflict,subsequentlychosenotto;

• In80%ofinterventionswhereviolencehadoccurredandbeenbroughttoanend,nofurtherviolencewasreported;

• In94%ofinterventions,thespecificconflictwasdeemedtohavebeenpartiallyorfullyresolved;

• Inonly6%ofcaseshadtheinterventionsappearedtohavefailedentirely.24

Sierra Leone – Fambul Tok programme25 • 84%ofpeoplefelttheirlocalpeacegroupshadhelpedpreventconflicts,and96%saidthatlevelsofviolencehadbeencontained;

• 60%agreedthattheprogrammehadmadethemwanttobringpeopleclosertogether;• Over85%thoughtithadchangedtheirperceptionofotherswhomtheyhadnotpreviouslyliked,andthattheyhadlearnedtoforgiveothers.26

South Kivu, DRC• Aclusterofpeacestructuresknownasbaraza(Swahiliforcouncil)resolvedatleast1,500localdisputesinthreeyears,benefittingatleast3,000peopledirectly,and15,000indirectly;

• 90%ofcasesbroughttothebazara’sattentionhadbeensatisfactorilyresolved;• 86%ofrespondentssaidthebaraza’sinitiativeshadmadetheircommunitymoresecure.27

Improvingattitudestowardsothersoftenmeansconfrontingtheideasthatunderpinnegativebehavior.EvaluatorssawthisasoneoftheachievementsofFambulTokcommunitypeacestructuresinSierraLeone,wherelocalresidentsgainedabetterunderstandingofthehistoryandcausesofthecivilwar,andthusovercametheirprejudicestowardsothers,allowingameasureofreconciliation.Theyalsobecamemorelikelytoforgivethosewhohadperpetratedviolence,moretrustingofex‑combatants,andmorecommunity‑oriented,withstrongersocialnetworks.28

Likemanyconflicts,thecivilwarinSouthSudanhasastronginter‑ethnicelement,basedonprejudice,antagonismandviolenceagainst‘other’groups.AprogrammeimplementedbylocalorganizationAssistanceMissionforAfricawasfoundtohavehelpedlocalDinkaandNuerpeacebuildersimproverelationsbetweencommunitiesthroughawareness‑raisingactivitiesandinter‑ethnicdialogue.Thislednotonlytoimprovedattitudesandmutualtrust,butalsopracticaloutcomessuchasareductionincattleraidsandrevengekillings,thereturnofstolencattle,safermovement,andastrongercommitmenttousingpeacefulmechanismstoresolvedisputes.29


‘[Local peace groups] are very perserverant. They do not give up easily. They find creative solutions.’

– Security officer, Nigeria

Communitypeaceinitiativeshavealsoreducedtheincidenceofconflictandtheriskofviolenceassociatedwithrefugeemovements.In2016,whenSouthSudaneserefugeesarrivedinSouthKordofan’sKalogielocality,someresidentssawthemasculturallyalienandresentedtheirneedforscarcelocalresources.Asaresult,conflictsaroseoveraccesstowaterandland.Atthispoint,thelocalpeacecommitteesteppedin,conveningtherefugeesandthelocalcommunityindialogue,identifyingspecificgrievancesandconcernsonbothsides,andidentifyingsolutions.Toimprovetheunderlyingrelationship,theyestablishedajointpeacecommitteemadeupofrefugeesandvillagers.Externalevaluatorsfoundthatthishadfosteredcollaborationandco‑ownership,allowingfurtherissuestobequicklyresolved,andimprovingrelationsatadeeperlevel.30


31 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.

‘[The District Dialogue Platform] made some of us change the way we were working. We were hard on our approach to witnesses. We have calmed down and know our place in working with the community people and this is also for some of our co-workers.’

– Security sector operative, Liberia

TheWestAfricanEbolaepidemicprovidesanotherexampleofhowlocalpeacestructurescancalmfraughtlocalrelationships.Theepidemicendedin2016,afteralongperiodofcrisis.Oneoftheobstaclestorestoringnormalitywasaresidualfearofdiseasesurvivors,amidaccusationsofwitchcraft.Thiswasacontextwheretrusthadalreadybeenweakenedbyyearsofcivilwar.SeveralDistrictDialoguePlatforms–community‑basedinitiativessetupbyLiberiancommunitiestorebuildtrustafterthewar–recognizedthissituationwasputtingtheirfragilestabilityatrisk.Theyconductedpublicawarenesscampaigns,andhelpedaffectedindividualsandfamiliestoreintegrateeconomicallyandsocially.Evaluatorsfoundthishadhelpedcommunitiesrecover,aswellasrecommittothepost‑warrebuildingthattheepidemichadinterrupted.31


Communitypeaceinitiativescanalsoimproverelationshipswithgovernmentandotherexternalplayers–playerswhosebehaviorscanhaveamajorimpactonlocalpeaceandstability.Onereportthatreviewedlocalpeacegroupsinarangeofcountriesfoundtheyhadhelpedimprovecommunityrelationswith(previouslyheavy‑handed)governmentsecurityservices.Thiscontributedtoareductioninhumanrightsabusesandcommunitydisruption,whileallowingthesecurityservicestokeepthepeacemoreeffectively.

32 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.33 OliverKaplan,‘ProtectingCiviliansinCivilWar:TheInstitutionoftheATCCinColombia’,Journal of Peace Research(2003)50(3):351–67.

CommunitymembersinKenya–whereclumsyactionsbythesecurityservicestowardsyoungMuslimmenhadpreviouslysouredrelations–attributedthistochangedattitudesandbehaviorsonthepartofsecurityactors,whowerenowmorewillingtoconsultcommunitymembersbeforetakingaction.Inanotherexamplefromthesamereport,relationsbetweenacommunityinLiberiaandaminingcompanyoperatinglocallyhaddeteriorated,creatinginstability.Here,thedialogueplatformhadinitiateddialoguebetweenthecompany,thelocalcommunityandgovernmentofficials,ultimatelyallowingthecompanytocontinueitsworkandprovidelocaljobs.32

‘There are several aspects of the functioning of the noyaux de paix that are of particular note. It is clear that [they] have become permanent mechanisms for conflict resolution within their communities. This becomes especially clear in certain communities where the noyau de paix has come to be called a baraza in Sud Kivu, or a barza in Nord Kivu – both Swahili terms for the customary council of sages, headed by a chief, which in the past, and in the absence of state judicial institutions, arbitrated conflicts within the community. The traditional baraza, of course, comprised only men of notable standing from one ethnicity.’

– Evaluation of local peace structures, DRC

Case Study 1. Negotiating security with armed groups in Colombia

LaAsociacióndeTrabajadoresCampesinosdelCarare(alocalpeasants’associationintheCarareRivervalley),representingruralhouseholdslongpreyeduponbyguerrillas,paramilitariesandthearmy(allthreesidesinatriangularconflict),establishedasystemprotectinglocalcommunitiesfromthevariousarmedgroups.Armedgroupsfromallsideswereinthehabitofputtingpressureonlocalpeopleeithertojointhemorprovideintelligence,threateningthemwithdeathiftheyrefused.Thisputpeopleinaninvidiousposition.Theyknewthatiftheyaccededtothedemands,theywouldlikelybetargetedbytheotherside,whileiftheyrefusedtheywouldbeharmedorkilled.

Theassociationworkedoutacomplicatedsystem,withtheagreementofthearmedgroupleaders,underwhichtheyguaranteedtheneutralityoftheirmembers,thusgivingthemthespacetosaynotoallparties.Incaseswhereoneofthearmedgroupsaccusedanassociationmemberofsupportinganotherarmedgroup,theassociationitselfwouldundertakeafullandobjectiveinvestigation.Ifthisinvestigationexoneratedtheindividual,thearmedgroupconcernedwouldbeinformed.If,ontheotherhand,theinvestigationfoundthattheaccusationsofpartisanshipweretrue,theassociationwouldoffertheindividualtwooptions:Eitherleavetheareaimmediatelyfortheirownsafety,orrenouncetheiraffiliationandhopeforthebest.Bystickingrigidlytoitsprocedures,theassociationbecametrustedonallsides,andiscreditedbyexternalresearcherswithminimizingtheratesoftargetedviolenceduringmanyyearsofcivilwar.33


Sustainable mechanisms that contribute to long‑term resilience

34 AlexisM.GardellaandEricKalaba,‘CitizenshipAndPeacebuildingInTheDemocraticRepublicOfCongo:FinalEvaluation’,March2009.35 AlexisM.GardellaandEricKalaba,‘CitizenshipAndPeacebuildingInTheDemocraticRepublicOfCongo:FinalEvaluation’,March2009.

Whencommunity‑basedpeaceinitiativesareadoptedaspartoflocalgovernancemechanisms,theirongoingcontributionissustained,representingastructuralchange.Forthistohappen,theremustbeprolongeddemandfortheirinterventions,andwidespreadsupportacrossthecommunity.

Manycommunity‑basedpeacestructuresbecomethepreferredmechanism,or‘firststop’,forpeopleseekingresolutionofdisputes.Evaluatorsfoundplentifulexamplesofcommunity‑basedinitiativescollaboratingwithandcomplementinglocalauthorities,andsawthisasanindicatorofsustainabilityandstructuralchange.Typically,traditionalcommunityleadersaremembersoftheirlocalpeacegroup.Inonecase,wherebothrebelsandthenationalarmywereactiveinpartoftheDRC,anarmycommanderstationednearbyalsosatonthecommunitypeacecommittee.34

Collaborationbetweencommunity‑basedpeacegroupsandtheauthoritiesispragmatic.Localauthoritiesreferpetitionerstothelocalpeacestructurewhenrelevant,andcommunitypeacegroupsoftenrefercasesthatarebeyondtheirremitorcapacitytothelocalauthorities.Thismutualsupportallowsbothpartiestobeeffective,andformorecasestobesatisfactorilyaddressed.ThestudyexaminingFambulTokcommunitypeacestructuresinSierraLeonefoundthat83%ofrespondentsconsideredtheirlocalchiefssupportiveoftheircommunitypeacegroup.IntheDRC,manylocalchiefsusedpublicresourcestosupportcommunitypeacegroupsinpracticalways,forexamplebyprovidingameetinghut,oraplotoflandforthegrouptocultivateinordertodefraytheirexpenses.35


Inanothersignofsustainabilityandstructuraltransformationnotedbyexternalevaluators,somecommunitypeacegroupsexpandtheirmandateandgeographiccoverage,ofteninresponsetoincreaseddemand.AdistrictpeaceinitiativeinLiberiaexpandedtocoverthewholecounty.36 PeacegroupsintheDRCreceivedandactedonrequestsfrompeopleinneighbouringareas.37SomecouncilsinBurundireached‘upwardsandoutwards’toexpandtheirelectionearly‑warningsystemsfromtheirowncolline(ward)tothecommune(district)level,andsomecreatedfunctionalnetworks,linkingupwithnearbycommunity‑basedinitiatives.38

Indeed,manyevaluatorsgiveexamplesofgrassrootspeaceinitiativesbeingencouragedbytheircommunitiestoplayaleadershiproleinlocaldevelopmentmorebroadly.PeacegroupshelpedimprovelocalyouthemploymentopportunitiesinSudan,39roadinfrastructureintheDRC,40 andcommunityradiostationsinLiberia.41 TheyalsohelpedincreasevotingratesinLiberia,particularlyamongfirst‑timewomenvoters.42

36 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.37 AlexisM.GardellaandEricKalaba,‘CitizenshipAndPeacebuildingInTheDemocraticRepublicOfCongo:FinalEvaluation’,March2009.38 MichelleSpearing,‘AddressingStateFragilityfromtheBottomUpThroughInclusiveCommunityGovernance:ExploringTheoriesofChange’,

CARENederland,2016.39 GumaKundaKomey,‘EvaluationoftheProcess,OutcomesandImpactoftheCfPS‑RRFandPCsinLocalPeace‑buildingandConflict

ResolutionsinSouthandWestKordofan,Sudan’,PeaceDirect,2017.40 BangaAssumaniMonday,‘EmergencyProjectToSupportSustainableSocio‑EconomicReintegrationOfEx‑ChildSoldiersInBeni,The

DemocraticRepublicOfTheCongo:ImpactAssessmentReport’,2017.41 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.42 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.43 MohammedAbu‑NimerandSusanShepler,‘FambulTokProgramEvaluation’,April2015.44 MichelleSpearing,‘AddressingStateFragilityfromtheBottomUpThroughInclusiveCommunityGovernance:ExploringTheoriesofChange’,

CARENederland,2016.45 AllanaPoole,‘BarazaJustice:ACaseStudyofCommunity‑LedConflictResolutionintheD.R.Congo’,PeaceDirect,2014.

Acommonresultoftheirworkinmanycontextswasanimprovementinlocalgovernancethroughmorerepresentativeparticipationindecision‑making,richerpublicdebate,andimprovedaccountability.InSierraLeone,79%ofrespondentssaidtheircommunitypeacegroupsenabledgreatercommunityparticipationindecision‑making,43whileresearchinBurundifoundthatelectedofficialswerepayingmoreattentiontocommunityviews,inanatmosphereofimprovedtrust.44CommunitymembersintheDRCfeltcorruptionhadlessenedduetothecommunity‑basedpeacegroup’swork.45

‘The conflicts which were resolved by the chiefs of the village were unfinished and still drove people back into the same situation afterwards, because if one of the parties involved in the conflict did not have the means to give money to the chief, the chief would not judge or resolve the problem. And if he resolved it, he always gave it in the best interest of whoever had given him most. The Baraza does it free and the solutions always result in peaceful living together afterwards.’

– Muvunju (name changed), resident of Kigongo in the DRC



Case Study 2. Building local peace against a backdrop of chronic conflict in Sudan

ThepeacecommitteeinDelenj–thecapitalofSouthKordofan–hasbeenactiveforseveralyears.In2017,attherequestoflocaleldersfromElTokmah,around10kmaway,itintervenedinresponsetogrowingtensionsbetweensemi‑nomadiclivestockherdersandsettledfarmers.46

Situatedinafertilezoneonmajortraditionallivestockroutes,ElTokmahisacollectionofhamletsandencampmentshousingaround9,000peoplefromupto20ethnicgroups.Thepeoplelivinginandtransitingtheareahaveforalongtimefollowedanagreedcodeofpracticetohelpavoidthekindsofconflictsthatcanoccurwhenfarmersandherderssharelandandwater,butthesenormshavecomeunderincreasingpressureinrecentyears.ThesecessionofSouthSudanandthepersistenceofchronicarmedconflictintheregionhaveclosedoffmuchofthealternativegrazing,forcingnomadstospendmoretimeintheneighbourhood.Weakstateinstitutionsandtheproliferationofsmallarmshaveonlyexacerbatedtensions.

Thesituationbecameincreasinglytenseduringtheharvestseasonin2017.Theincursionoflivestockontofarmers’fieldsresultedinviolencebetweenDarNay’lanomadsandNubaAjankfarmers,causingseriousinjuries.Reportsoflivestockdamagingcropsproliferatedamidasenseofgrowingmistrust.Afarmerwasshotdeadatnightwhileguardinghisfields.Farmingcommunitiesthreatenedtotakethelawintotheirownhandsaspressureoveraccesstograzingandwatersourcesmounted.InOctober,theeldersoftheElTokmahcommunities–anxiousaboutthegrowingtension,andawarethatatleasttenpeoplehadbeenkilledinsimilarcircumstancesthepreviousyear–requestedhelpfromtheDelenjpeacecommittee.Thecommitteeagreed,andobtainedsupportfromKhartoum‑basedNGOCollaborativeforPeaceinSudantoorganizeamajormeetinginNovember,designedtodevelopandagreeasolution.

Theyproducedanagreementthat,amongothersthings,committedcommunityleaderstorestoreandenforcetraditionalcodesofpracticethathadmaintainedpeaceinthepast;tokeeplivestockinagreedpasturelandsfurtherawayfromthefarms;toestablishajointcommitteetomonitorandrespondpeacefullytofurtherinfractions;andtolevyfinesonanyonebreakingtherulesorcarryingsmallarms.

Thecommitteeknewtheunderlyingissueshadtobeaddressedaswell,andsopersuadedthegovernmenttocreateanadditionalwaterpointtoreducethepressureonexistingresources.Meanwhile,thecommitteepersuadedinternationaldevelopmentorganizationstobringnewdevelopmentinterventionstoElTokmahinordertocreatejobsforyoungpeopleandimprovehealthservices.

Sixmonthslater,researchersfoundthattheinitiativehadbeensuccessful.Therehadbeenadecreaseinreportsoflivestockinfringements,aswellasoftheuseofsmallarmsandotherviolence,whiletherehadbeenanincreaseinreportsofpeopleusingpeacefuldispute‑resolutionmechanisms.AsreportedbyIbrahimMohamedHamad,aSheikhofthepastoralBaggaragroup:‘Asacommunityleaderofthenomadicgroup,Iamoneofthedirectbeneficiariesoftheconference.Itmadeourworkeasierthanbefore,becausetheconferencehadtremendouspositiveimpactonlocalpeaceandsocialco‑existence.Thereweresignificantreductionsoffarmer–pastoralconflictsduringharvestseasonthisyearcomparedtolastyear.Precisely,thisyear,ascommunitySheikh,Ireceivedfourcasesonlywhileitamountedtoseveraltensoffarmer–pastoralconflictcaseslastyearoverthesameperiod.’


Lessons learnedFigure5summarizestheimpactsoflocalpeacestructuresreviewedinthischapter,followingthethreedomainsandthreelevelsusedinourimpactmodel.Fromthisshortreview,itiscleartheyhavecontributedtoimprovedlocalstabilityandpeace.Lookingfirstatthethreelevelsofimpact,community‑basedpeaceinitiativeshaveshowntheycanimprovepeople’sattitudesandknowledge,aswasthecaseinSierraLeone,wherelocalresidentssaidtheyhadbecomeclosertoandlessprejudicedtowardsothers.Community‑basedpeaceinitiativeshavealsohelpedchangebehaviors,asillustratedintheSudancasestudy,wherefarmersandherderswereusingpeacefuldispute‑resolutionmechanisms.

Additionally,themanycaseswherepeacegroupshavebecome‘partofthefurniture’,operatingasanintegralpartoflocalgovernanceandconflict‑resolutionmechanisms,representnewstructuralnorms.

Thecasesalsoprovideexamplesofhorizontalandverticalrelationships–thebasisofpositivepeace–beingstrengthened.Theseincludehorizontalrelationshipsbetweenrefugeesandlocals,andfarmersandherders,andverticalrelationshipsbetweencommunitymembersandsecurityservices,aswellaslocalofficials.Finally,community‑basedpeaceinitiativescanavert,reduceorstopviolence,includingpreventingunresolvedsmall‑scaleviolenceescalatingintoatrocitiesonalargerscale.


Figure 5. Three domains and three levels of impact, with illustrations from community‑based peace initiatives

Levels →

Domains ↓




Greaterunderstandingofandconfidenceinnon‑violentdisputemethods

Highpercentageoflocaldisputesresolved

Reducedviolence,includingelectoralandintercommunityviolence

Reducedharassmentbymilitias

Communitymembersfeelsafer

Newnorms,bywhichpeopleandarmedgroupsagreeonrulestokeepcivilianssafe


Communitymembersgainamorethoroughunderstandingofthehistoryandcausesofconflict,thusbecomingmoretolerantandforgivingofperpetrators

Improvedattitudesandmutualtrustbetweenrivalcommunities

Increasedmovementofcommunitymembersacrossinter‑ethnicdivides

Improvedintra‑communityrelations

Improvedrelationsbetweenethnicandreligiouscommunitiesandclans

Returningrefugeeshelpedtoreintegratepeacefully

Strengthenedsocialnetworks

Increasedcommitmenttousingnon‑violentapproachestoresolvinginter‑communityconflict

Governancestructuresestablishedtomanagerelationsbetweencommunities

Community‑basedpeaceinitiativesexpandtheirmandateandterritory


Improvedmutualunderstandingbetweenauthoritiesandpeople

Communitiesnegotiatetoreducetensionsbetweencommunityandarmedmilitia

Securityservicesusemorecollaborativeapproaches

Externalbusinessesandcommunitiescollaboratebetter

Communitypeaceinitiativesintegratedintolocaldecision‑makingsystems;localleadersintegratedintocommunitypeacestructures

Diverseparticipationincommunitypeaceinitiativesbreaksdownprejudicetowardswomen,minoritygroupsandyouth

Community‑basedpeaceinitiativesrefercasestotheauthoritiesandviceversa

Improvedpopularparticipationindecision‑making;improvedaccountabilityoflocalleaders;reducedcorruption


Several important conclusions emerge from this section of the report, each of which is briefly addressed below (and will be revisited in the overall conclusions in Chapter 6):

Relevance in situations of long‑term conflict and inadequate governance

Communitypeacestructuresareespeciallyrelevantinsituationsofchronicconflict.Givenhigher‑levelgovernancestructuresareoftenunableorunwillingtohelpresolvelocaldisputesfairly,theabilitytoresolveissuesbeforetheybecomeviolent–andtherebymaintainlocalstabilityandpreventatrocities–isatapremium.TheexamplesfromColombia,DRCandSudandemonstratethis.Inparticular,inSouthSudan,communitypeacestructuresimprovedrelationsbetweenDinkaandNuercommunities,evenwhilecivilwarwaspittingthewiderDinkaandNuercommunitiesagainsteachother.

Practical approaches, on a breadth of issues

Theoristshavelongarguedthatpeacecanbestrengthenedorweakenedacrossawidegamutofissues,includingaccesstoeconomicopportunity,security,justice,opportunitiestoimprovewell‑being,andparticipationingovernance.Judgingfromhowtheyoperateandtheissuestheyaddress,communitypeaceactivistsknowthis.Theydealwithdisputesovernaturalresources,fosterdiverseparticipationintransparentgovernance,andinmanycasesaredrawnintotheprovisionofjusticeanddevelopmentactivities.Communitymembersfeelsaferbecauseofwhatlocalpeacestructureshavedone.communitypeaceactivistsaddressthiswidesetofissuesinapracticalway,tacklingissuesonwhichtheyhavelegitimacyandtraction,buildingpeacefromthebottomup.

Responsiveness and adaptability

Manyevaluationscitetheresponsivenessofcommunitypeacestructuresasbeingadirectresultoftheirclosenesstothegroundandlocalknowledge,andofbeinguntiedtobureaucraticprocedures.ThisisdemonstratedbytheDelenjandKalogiepeacecommitteessteppingintoplayaleadershiprolewhentheirrespectivelocalsecuritysituationsabruptlydeteriorated.Giventheriskofsmallincidentsescalatinginsituationsofchromicconflict,thisabilitytorespondquicklyandadaptispotentiallycriticalinatrocityprevention.

Inclusion and governance

Successfulcommunity‑basedpeacestructurestendtoreflectthediversityoftheircommunities,andallowpeopleofdifferentgenders,agesandethnicitytohavetheirissuesheard.Peaceinitiativescanbemoreprogressivethantheirwidercommunities,forexampleintheirapproachtoinvolvingwomen,andprovidingmigrantsandrefugeeswithavoice.However,suchopennessisnotfullyacceptedeverywhere,andevaluationsnotethatsomelocalvoiceswereraisedagainstit.Evenwhenwomenhaveaseatatthetable,patriarchalattitudesoftenpersist.

Accordingtoevaluatorsandthecommunitymemberstheyconsulted,theinclusivenessofpeaceinitiativescanhaveapositiveimpactonlocalgovernancemorebroadly.Sinceimprovedgovernanceisoneofthekeystopositive,sustainedpeace,localpeacestructuresarethusmakingasignificantindirectcontributiontopeaceinthelongterm.


Ofcourse,noteveryoneappreciatestheroleplayedbypeacebuildingstructures,andinsomecasescommunityleadershaveseenthemasusurpersoftheirowntraditional–andoftenremunerative–roleindisputeresolution.Otheractorswithaninterestinperpetuatingpoliticalconflicthavealsotriedtounderminethem.Therefore,insomecircumstances,community‑basedpeacestructurescanfacechallengesinestablishinglegitimacyanda‘licencetooperate’.47

Partnerships with NGOs

ManyoftheexamplesinthischapterhavebeenofcommunitiessupportedbyNGOs,andcommunitypeacestructuresseemwell‑suitedtocollaborationwithlocalandinternationalNGOs.Severaloftheevaluationsexplorethis,findingthatlocalknowledgeandcapacitycombinedwithexternalknowledgeandaccesstoresourcesisoftenveryeffective.Forexample,peacecommitteestoldevaluatorsthatthetrainingtheyhadreceivedinpeacebuildingtechniquesfromCollaborativeforPeaceinSudanhadmadethemmoreeffective.48

However,othershavenotedtheriskthatoutsiders–especiallyinternationalorganizations,orthenationalgovernment–canunderminecommunityinitiativesbyco‑optingthem,drawingthemintoinappropriateactivities,orprovidingthemwithformsofsupportonwhichtheybecomeover‑reliant,harmingtheirsustainabilityandeffectiveness.Outsidersmustthereforebesensitivewhenprovidingsupport.49

47 See,forexample,MichelleSpearing,‘AddressingStateFragilityfromtheBottomUpThroughInclusiveCommunityGovernance:ExploringTheoriesofChange’,CARENederland,2016;andAlexisM.GardellaandEricKalaba,‘CitizenshipAndPeacebuildingInTheDemocraticRepublicOfCongo:FinalEvaluation’,March2009.


49 LisaMüller‑Dormann,‘Kenya’sLocalPeaceCommittees:HowDoesTheLocalRemainLocallyOwned?’,PolisBriefNo.8,Polis180,2018.50 ReneClaudeNiyonkuru,‘BuildingthePeaceArchitecturefromtheBottom‑up:TheExperienceofLocalPeaceCommitteesinBurundi’,

OccasionalPaper,PeacebuildingSeriesNo.5,FutureGenerationsGraduateSchool,2017.

Scale

Finally,thereistheissueofscale.Almostbydefinition,community‑basedpeacestructuresoperateonasmallscale.Whilethisallowsthemtoberelevant,knowledgeableandadaptable,itcanalsolimittheirabilitytotacklewiderpeaceandconflictdynamics.

However,theimpactofcommunity‑basedpeaceinitiativesshouldnotonlybemeasuredcasebycase.Thecumulativeimpactofrepeatedlyresolvingdifferentconflictproblemsinagivenareacanbegreaterthanthesumoftheparts.Thepeasants’associationinColombiaachievedthiskindofeffect,allowingfamiliestocontinuetoobtainalivelihoodoverawideareaformorethantwentyyears.

Somelocalgroupshaveaddressedthisquestionofscalebyexpandingtheirreach,suchasthepeaceclubinoneBurundiancollinethatalsopreventedelectionviolenceatcommunelevel,ortheLiberiandistrictdialogueplatformthatexpandedtocoverthewholecounty.Othershavenetworkedwithsimilarentitiesinneighbouringcommunities,asseeninthelinkagesbeingdevelopedbetweenlocalpeaceclubsinBurundi.Thereisalsoanatural‘scalingup’thatemergeswhennetworksofsimilarbodiesoperateacrossagivenarea.In2017,oneresearcherinBurundicounted500to600localpeacestructuresatcommune,collineandcellulelevels(in40of129communes,and14of17provinces).50


AclusterofbarazapeacecouncilsineasternDRCbytheirownindividualactionsachievedincreasedaccesstojusticeacrossawideareaofSouthKivu,allowingdisputestoberesolvedbeforeawidersenseofgrievancecoulddeveloporbeexploitedfornegativepoliticalpurposes.51TheFambulTokgroupsinSierraLeonehavecombinedgrassrootslegitimacywithscale:Theprogrammehasbeenimplementedwithandbycommunitiesinallpartsofthecountry,andhasnowbeenongoingforseveralyears.52

Thesearegoodexamplesofscalingup,achievedinlocallyrelevantways.Nevertheless,manyevaluationsoflocalpeacestructuresalsoidentifyunexploitedopportunitiestoachievemoreimpactthroughscalingup.Itisthereforesomethingthatlocalpeacestructures,andtheirpartners,shouldconsiderfurther.

51 AllanaPoole,‘BarazaJustice:ACaseStudyofCommunity‑LedConflictResolutionintheD.R.Congo’,PeaceDirect,2014.52 MohammedAbu‑NimerandSusanShepler,‘FambulTokProgramEvaluation’,April2015.


4 Initiatives led by, or engaging, specific groups

Peacebuilding initiatives are often focused on addressing the needs and concerns of a particular group of people whose engagement is essential for peace but who may otherwise be excluded. These may be people with the capacity to undermine peace, or whose inclusion can help make the peace more durable. Examples include political, ethnic or geographically specific groups, women and youth, particular castes, sexual minorities, people suffering from violence‑induced trauma, displaced people and refugees, and ex‑combatants.

Localinitiativesarewell‑placedtotakeonthischallenge,astheyunderstandtheconstraintsandopportunitiesfacedbymembersofthegroupinquestion,notleastbecausetheyareusuallyledandconductedbygroupmembers.

Thischapterdrawsonexamplesofinitiativesthathaveaddressedtheneedsofthreesuchgroups–peopletraumatizedinconflict,youngpeople,andwomen–chosenbecausetheywererepresentedintheevaluationsavailabletothisstudy.Initiativesincludedpsychosocialprogrammespromotingtraumahealingofindividualsandtheircommunitiesinpost‑genocideRwanda,andinZimbabwewherepoliticalviolenceandtorturehasdividedcommunities.

ThechapteralsoincludesexamplesfromBurundi,Guatemala,Kenya,Lebanon,Liberia,SierraLeone,SriLanka,SouthSudanandSyria,ofNGOshelpingsteeryoungpeopleawayfrompoliticalorcriminalviolenceandtowardsmakingamorepositivecontributiontosociety.Additionally,ithighlightsinitiativesreducingurbangangviolenceinHonduras,Mexico,TrinidadandTobago,andSouthAfrica.

Finally,itdescribesimpactofwomen’sorganizationsonincreasedfemaleparticipationinpoliticsanddecision‑makinginBurundi,SomaliaandSouthSudan,andreducinggender‑basedviolenceintheDRCandSouthSudan.

‘Before joining this group, I used to be a counsellor who helped people during commemoration periods when [they were] traumatized. When a Tutsi child [was] traumatized, I could speedily support him, gave him a bottle of water and rapidly took him in a good place for counselling, but when a Hutu child [had a] crisis, I used to run away and didn’t care about him. Nothing I could do for him because I thought “they are not wounded”. But since joining this group I have learnt the sense of empathy, tolerance and [different] types of wounds.’

– Youth peace dialogue participant, Rwanda


Helping people who have been traumatized by conflict

53 AbiossehDavis,CelestinNsengiyumvaandDanielHyslop,‘HealingTraumaandBuildingTrustandToleranceinRwanda:LessonslearnedfromPeacebuildingApproachestoPsychosocialSupportGroupHealinginRwanda’,InterpeaceandNeverAgainRwanda,April2019.

54 TreeofLifeandMutokoTeam,andCraigHigson‑Smith,‘HealthyPeopleandHealthyCommunitiesinZimbabwe’,TreeofLifeTrustZimbabwe;AndrewIliff,‘TreeofLife:SowingtheSeedsofGrassrootsTransitionalJustice’,AfricanArgumentsblogpost,11March2010.Availablefrom:https://africanarguments.org/2010/03/11/root‑and‑branch‑tree‑of‑life‑sowing‑the‑seeds‑of‑grassroots‑transitional‑justice/;TonyReeler,KudakwasheChitsike,FungisaiMaizvaandBeverleyReeler,‘TheTreeofLife:ACommunityApproachtoEmpoweringandHealingSurvivorsofTortureinZimbabwe’,Torture(2009)19(3):180–93.

55 TreeofLifeandMutokoTeam,andCraigHigson‑Smith,‘HealthyPeopleandHealthyCommunitiesinZimbabwe’,TreeofLifeTrustZimbabwe.56 AndrewIliff,‘TreeofLife:SowingtheSeedsofGrassrootsTransitionalJustice’,AfricanArgumentsblogpost,11March2010.Availablefrom:

https://africanarguments.org/2010/03/11/root‑and‑branch‑tree‑of‑life‑sowing‑the‑seeds‑of‑grassroots‑transitional‑justice/57 TonyReeler,KudakwasheChitsike,FungisaiMaizvaandBeverleyReeler,‘TheTreeofLife:ACommunityApproachtoEmpoweringand

HealingSurvivorsofTortureinZimbabwe’,Torture(2009)19(3):180–93.

Psychologicaltraumacausedbyexposuretoconflict–asperpetrator,victim,personatrisk,survivororwitness–inflictsanimmenseburdenonindividuals,families,communitiesandsocieties,oftenpersistinglongaftertheviolenceends.Mostpeoplelackaccesstoprofessionalassistancetohelpthemrecover,whilefamiliesandcommunitiesareoftenill‑equippedtoprovidesupport.Leftunresolved,thisproblemcanpotentiallynotonlyundermineaperson’slife,itcanalsounderminetherebuildingofpeacefulsocialrelations.Thisisparticularlythecaseaftercivilconflict,whencommunitieshavebeendivided,trustseverelyeroded,andsocietyhasbecomedysfunctionalforpeace.Addressingpsychologicaltrauma,usuallywithlimitedprofessionalandclinicalresources,isthereforeacriticalpartofbuildingpeace.53

TheNGOTreeofLifeTrustZimbabwetrainsandaccompaniesmembersofthecommunitiesithelps–includingreligiousandbusinessleaders–inconductingmanagedlocaldialoguesandencounters,inpartsofZimbabwewhereyearsofpoliticalandinter‑ethnicviolencehaveleftpeopleandcommunitiestraumatized.Severalexternalreviewshavefoundithasmadeaconsiderabledifferencetopeople’slives.Participantsreportedreducedlevelsoftrauma,renewedcommunitytiesandtrust,andthatdivisionsintheircommunityduetothepoliticalviolencewerebeginningtoheal.54InMashonaland,aruralcommunityinMutokoDistrict,TreeofLife’sinterventionledtopeopledecidingtoreviveacommunalfarmtheyhadpreviouslycultivatedfortheadvantageofvulnerablefamilies,aprojectthathadlapsedamidthedysfunctionalityofcommunitytrauma.55

Afollow‑upstudyfoundthatthesymptomsofathirdofparticipantshadbeenreducedtobelowclinicalthresholds.56Inanother,36%oftorturevictimswhohadattendedtheworkshopsshowedsignificantclinicalimprovement.While44%werestillexperiencingdifficulties,56%reportedcopingbetter.Manyfelttheprocesshadhelpedthemfindanewpositivity,andhadimprovedhowtheyfeltaboutthepast.57

https://africanarguments.org/2010/03/11/root-and-branch-tree-of-life-sowing-the-seeds-of-grassroots-transitional-justice/

https://africanarguments.org/2010/03/11/root-and-branch-tree-of-life-sowing-the-seeds-of-grassroots-transitional-justice/


58 ThedataonNeverAgainRwandaisdrawnfromtwodocuments:AbiossehDavis,CelestinNsengiyumvaandDanielHyslop,‘HealingTraumaandBuildingTrustandToleranceinRwanda:LessonslearnedfromPeacebuildingApproachestoPsychosocialSupportGroupHealinginRwanda’,InterpeaceandNeverAgainRwanda,April2019;andStacyHilliard,EugeneNtagandaandKatieBartholomew,‘SocietalHealing&ParticipatoryGovernance:Mid‑TermEvaluation’,TayshaConsulting,March2017.

Case Study 3. Healing traumatized individuals and communities in Rwanda

ManyRwandesestillsufferfromtraumaduetothe1994genocide,withevenpeoplebornafterthatdateaffected.Communitiesremaindividedalongethniclines,orbetweenperpetratorsandsurvivors,andthisisanobstacletolong‑termpeace.RecentevaluationsexaminedfouryearsofworkbyNeverAgainRwanda,anNGOthatpromoteshealingthroughacombinationofdialogue,traumahealing,andpractical,collaborativeprojectsindividedcommunitiesacrossthecountry.58 Theresearchdescribeshowpeoplehadbeentraumatizedbytheirexperienceofthegenocideanditsaftermath,asrefugees,bythelossoflovedonesandincompletemourning,rape,labellingandstigmatization,thelossofidentity,transferredguilt,andwitnessingviolencefirst‑hand.

NeverAgainRwanda’sinitiativeshelpedpeoplereducetheirlevelsoftraumaandpsychologicaldistress,andtobuildresilience,forgivenessandtoleranceforsocialcohesionandpeace.Almostallparticipantsexperiencedprofoundpersonalchange,andwereabletomoveonwiththeirlivesandrelationships.Peoplebecamelessisolated,andweremorewillingtointeractwithothersacrosssociety.Theeffectsoftraumaimprovedbyanaverageof25%onatraumaindex,withtheimprovementbeingslightlygreaterformenthanwomen.Peopleexhibitedincreasedself‑esteemandlessguilt.Thenumberofpeoplefeelingdepressedwentdownbyalmosthalf,to23%.Therewasalsoasignificantdeclineinthenumberofpeoplewhothoughtaboutsuicideveryoften,from15%ofparticipantsto5%.

Theimpactwasnotonlyfeltbyindividuals,butledtoimprovedcommunityhealthandfunctionality.Levelsoftrustbetweenparticipantsandtherestofsocietysignificantlyimproved.Evaluatorsusedatrustindexthatmeasuredpeople’sreadinessforsocialinteractions,personalsharingandpartnershipsindailylife.Thisimprovedbyanimpressive57%betweenthebaselineandlaterevaluations–atransformativelevelofchange.

Socialtolerancealsoimprovedintermsofattitudinalandbehavioralfactors,suchasthefrequencyofcontactwithotherethnicandsocialgroups,beingcomfortablewithmarriagetoothergroups,aswellasvotingforandreceivingassistancefromothergroups.Allareasofthesocialtoleranceindeximproved,especiallyamonggenocideperpetrators.

Therewasmorelimitedprogressintermsofpeopleengaginginpeaceactivismandindependentpeacebuildingactivities.Nevertheless,thepercentageofparticipantsinvolvedinconflictresolutionintheircommunitiesincreasedfrom66%to82%.Participationinformal,state‑organizedgovernanceprocesses,andcollaborativecommunityworkprogrammesknownasUmuganda,aswellascivicreconciliationandcommemorationactivities,alsoimproved.Independently,somestudents–peoplewhohadn’tyetbeenbornin1994,butevensowereaffectedbythegenocide–formedgroupstopromotepeaceintheircommunities.Therewasalsoevidenceofincreasedcriticalthinking,andthedebatingofcommunityprioritieswithlocalauthorities,thusimprovinggovernanceandprovidingagreatersenseof‘membership’ofthecommunity.


Young people

59 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.60 AlejandraBernardoAndrés,‘YouthInspired:TodayandTomorrowandIntamenwa(Indivisibles):MobilizingYouthforPeacefulElections’,

ProgressEvaluation,SearchforCommonGround,December2014.61 ‘SummaryofEvaluationReportoftheKumekuchaPrograminMajengo,Nairobi’,February2019.

Youngpeopleformthemajorityinmanyconflict‑affectedcountries.Theyrepresentthefutureofsociety,andsotheirknowledge,attitudesandbehaviors,andtheirparticipationinpeacefulstructures,isessentialfordurablepeace.Theyoftenfeel–andoftenare–excludedfrompolitical,socialandeconomicstructures,meaningtheycanbeparticularlyvulnerabletorecruitmentbyarmedgroups.Itisimportanttoaddresstheneedsandaspirationsofalienatedyoungpeoplewhofeeltheylackprospectsandarepoorlyservedbysociety.Therefore,manypeacebuildingprogrammesworkwithyoungpeople,toprotectthembothfromcommittingandsufferingharm,andtosecuretheirengagementinapeacefulvisionoftheirfuture.

Theimpactsonyoungpeopledescribedintheevaluationsusedforthisreportfallintotwobroad,overlappingcategories.Thefirstoftheseisareductioninyoungpeople’svulnerabilitytobeingdrawnintoviolence,whilethesecondisincreasedengagementasactivecitizensinbuildingapeacefulsociety.

Reducing young people’s vulnerability to being drawn into violence

Whileyoungpeoplehavegreatpotentialtocontributetopeacefulsocieties,theyarealsoespeciallyvulnerabletobeingrecruitedforviolence,whetherasthugstointimidateorharmpoliticalopponentsduringelections,asmembersofcriminalgangs,orasparticipantsofarmedgroupsincivilwarsorextremistinsurgencies.CommunitygroupsinNigeriawerefoundtohavereducedyoungpeople’ssusceptibilitytobeingrecruitedormanipulatedforviolence.59Meanwhile,agroupofBurundianNGOsthatusedtraining,dialogueforums,mediacampaignsandcollaborativeprojects,werefoundtohavehelpedyouthleaderspreventyoungpeoplefrombeingmanipulatedbypoliticiansintopoliticalviolence.60

TheKumekucainitiativeoftheGreenStringNetworkinKenyaaimstolessentheriskofyoungpeoplebeingrecruitedbyviolentextremistgroups,byincreasingcommunityresilience.Anevaluationfoundtheywereontracktosucceed.Individualwell‑beinghadincreased,socialandcommunitysupportmechanismsweresignificantlymoreactive,trustlevelswerehigher,andreadinesstoacceptex‑membersofarmedextremistgroupsbackintothecommunityhadalsogoneup.61


Peacebuildingtechniquesarebeingusedtopreventviolenceinurbansettingswherecriminalgangsholdsway.Workingwithschoolsandfamilies,theYoungMen’sChristianAssociation(YMCA)inGuatemalareducedlevelsofviolenceaffectingyoungpeople.Evaluatorsnotethattraining114youngleaders–halfofthemmaleandhalfofthemfemale–andsupportingthemintheiroutreach,hadenabledthemtoreachover16,000people,intheprocessbreakingdownstigmaandethnicbarriers,andimprovingyoungpeople’sperceptionsoftheircommunitiesandsenseofsafety.Asaresult,theyoungpeopleexperienced60%fewerincidencesofviolence,andtheirownacceptanceofviolencewasreducedby85%.62CureViolence,aninternationalNGO,haspioneeredanapproachthatmobilizestrainedcommunitymembersinUScitiestointerveneandde‑escalateviolencewhentensionsriseduetospecificincidents.63Thisapproachhasbeenadaptedbyorganizationselsewhere,oftenyieldingimpressiveresults.Figure6summarizestheresultsgivenbyexternalassessmentsoftheseprogrammesinfourdifferentcountries.

62 YCareInternational,‘ChangetheGame:EngagingMarginalisedYoungPeopleThroughSportandPlay’,2016.63 InformationontheCureViolenceModelavailable:http://cureviolence.org/the‑model/essential‑elements/64 SummaryoffindingsontheCureViolenceModel.Fullsourcereferencesavailable:www.cureviolence.com

BurundianNGOsRéseaudesJeunesenAction,CollectifpourlaPromotiondesAssociationsdesJeunes,Centred´encadrementetdeDéveloppementdesAnciensCombattants,andAppuiauDéveloppementIntégraletàlaSolidaritésurlesCollines,increasedtheproportionofyoungpeoplewhofelttheycouldresistmanipulationtoengageinviolenceto95%aheadofthe2015elections.87%ofyouthleadersclaimedtheywerecommittedtonon‑violenceinthecomingelections,andindeedtheevaluatorsfoundevidenceofactualdecreasesinviolenceaheadoftheelections,inplaceswheretheseinitiativeshadbeenconducted.

Figure 6. Evidence of urban violence reduction reported from sites where Cure Violence methods were used64

Cape Town (South Africa) 14%fewerkillings

29%fewerattemptedkillings

10%fewerseriousassaults

Juarez (Mexico) 50%fewerkillings

Fewerdisputesandconflicts

Port au Prince (Trinidad and Tobago) 67%fewercasesofwounding

33%fewerpolicecalloutsforincidentswherepersonswerearmedwithfirearms

http://cureviolence.org/the

http://www.cureviolence.com


Young people engaging as active citizens

Theotherimpactareaforyoungpeopleisincreasedcivicparticipation,whichoftengoeshandinhandwithviolencereductioninitiatives.ThegroupofBurundianNGOsreferredtoabovehavealsohelpedyoungpeoplebecomemorepositivelyengagedinsociety,65whiletheYMCAsinSierraLeoneandLiberiahavehelpedreduceviolencelevelsandimproverelationshipsbetweenyoungpeopleandtheircommunities.66

LocalorganizationsprovidingyoungSyrianswitheducationregardingtheconceptsandpracticeofpeacefulco‑existencesawimprovementsaslittleassixmonthsafterenrolmentintheprogramme.Evaluatorsidentifiedanincreaseinknowledgeaboutpeaceconcepts,aswellasfindingevidenceofincreasedoptimismandcriticalthinking,morepositiveattitudestowardspeacefulapproachestodealingwithconflict,andofyoungpeoplechallengingnotionsofgrievanceandrevenge.Thiswasinacontextwhereyearsofwarhadtraumatizedyoungpeople,andnormalizedviolence.Inonestrikingexample,achildwhoattendedpeaceeducationsessionssubsequentlyvolunteeredtohandinaknifehehadhithertoalwayscarried.Evaluatorsusedanindextomeasureyoungpeople’sresiliencetobeingdrawnintoconflict,whichhadincreasedamongrefugeesinLebanon,thoughunfortunatelynotamongparticipantsinSyriaitself.67

65 Rapportd’évaluationduprojet‘MobilisationdesjeunespouruneculturedelapaixauBurundi’,February2011,citedinLesleyConnollyandLauraPowers,eds,‘LocalNetworksforPeace:LessonsfromCommunity‑LedPeacebuilding’,InternationalPeaceInstitute,September2018.

66 YCareInternational,‘SupportingYouthLivelihoodsAndGovernanceInLiberiaAndSierraLeone’,2013.67 Thisparagraphdrawsonevaluationsseenbytheauthor,butwhichtheorganizationsconcernedpreferredtokeepconfidential.

Outcomes of peacebuilding with young people in Burundi94%ofyouthhadsoftenedtheirattitudestowardsotherswithdifferentpoliticalbeliefs,andfelttheyhadgreateropportunitiestoengagewithyoungpeoplefromotheraffiliations;93%ofyoungpeoplehadbeguntoengagemorepositivelyinthecommunity;Over90%ofyouthleadersfeltmoreabletomobilizetheirpeersforpeace,democracyanddevelopment;Youngfemaleleadersorganizedlocalpeacefestivals;Moreyoungpeoplehadbeenpersuadedtovote.

‘The project came at a time of high political tension. Currently, the youths are not under the threat of being manipulated, they can see clearly. The project has opened their eyes; there are now only those who have not taken the trainings who are susceptible to manipulation, the others not.’ ‘We are now able to identify politicians’ manipulations; their promises and the unfair advantages.’

– Participants in focus groups, Bujumbura, Burundi


AftertheendofSriLanka’slong‑runningcivilwar,theCentreforPeacebuildingandReconciliationinSriLankabroughtyoungpeoplefromdifferentreligiousidentitiestogethertotakepartinjointculturalactivities,inordertofostercollaborationandasenseofcommoncitizenship.ItsYoungVisionariesprogramme,implementedinfiveregionalcentres,wasfoundtohavecreatedacadreofyoungpeopletrainedinconceptsofpeacefulco‑existence,andwhohadgottoknowpeoplefrom‘other’identitygroups–fromwhichmanywouldotherwisehavegrownupisolated.Thisstimulatedawidespreadwillingnesstoformrelationshipswithyoungpeoplefromotherethno‑religiousgroups,whereasonlyoneintenofthemhadpreviouslyhadfriendsfromoutsidetheirowncommunity.Participantsdevisedcollaborativecivicinitiatives,suchaspublichealthcampaignsandenvironmentalclean‑ups.Inaknock‑oneffect,someoftheirparentsadoptedthetoleranceandcollaborationtheywitnessedintheirchildren.68

TheCitizen’sTheatremovementinSouthSudanalsousesculturalactivitiesasthebasisforengagingyoungpeopleforpeace.Since2012,ithastrainedaround800youngfacilitatorstoleadcommunityforumsinsixstates,andorganizedinter‑schooltheatrefestivalsinJuba,BorandAweil.Theatregroupsremainactiveinsecondaryschoolsacrossthecountry,regularlyusingperformanceanddialoguetoraiseimportantissuesrelatedtopeaceanddevelopmentintheircommunities.

68 RosemaryCairns,‘AnEvaluationof“StrengtheningLocallyLedPeacebuilding”’,PeaceDirect,May2011.69 ForthcomingevaluationreportontheCitizens’Theatreinitiatives,citedinChristianAid,‘InItFortheLongHaul?:LessonsonPeacebuildingin

SouthSudan’,2018.

Acentralelementoftheapproachisthatyoungparticipantstaketheleadinselectingtheissuesaroundwhichtobuilddialogue.Theprocesshascreatedararesafespaceforcommunities–ledbytheiryouth–toconsiderhowtheproblemstheyfacestemfromandfeedintowiderconflict.Thestyle,subjectandemphasisdiffersfromlocationtolocation,buttypicalissueshaveincludedcattleraiding,tribalism,hatespeech,moralvaluesandcorruption,allofwhichhavealinktoconflict,andthustopeace.

EvaluatorsfoundthattheCitizen’sTheatremovementhasincreasedyoungpeople’ssocialnetworksacrossethnicandculturaldivides.Ithashelpedimprovementalhealthandwell‑being,reducefear,andincreasemutualunderstandingofthe‘other’.Participantsaremorelikelytoengageinleadershipandproblemsolvingwithinthecommunity.AyoungwomaninBorattributedhersuccessinsecuringthereleaseofherunjustlyimprisonedbrothertotheskillsandconfidenceshehaddevelopedintheprogramme.Thenumberofdramaclubsinsecondaryschoolsisincreasingyearonyear,andthemovementhaspersuadedtheMinistryofEducationtoincorporatedramainschools.69


Women

70 UnitedNationsandWorldBank,Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict,Washington,DC:WorldBank,2018.71 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.72 MathiasKinezero,‘Rapportd’évaluationexterneduprojet110171«RenforcementduLeadershipFéminin»’,2015.73 Portals2PeaceandNationalActionPlanEvaluationreport,2019’,AssistanceMissionforAfricaandPAX,2019.74 Life&PeaceInstitute,PeaceDirectandSomaliWomenSolidarityOrganization,‘Women,ConflictandPeace:LearningFromKismayo:AStudy

Report,’April2018.

Womenandgirlsarefrequentlyvictimsofconflict,whilepeaceprocessesinvolvingwomenaremorelikelytobesustained.70 Numerouslocalpeacebuildinginitiatives,oftenledbywomen’sorganizations,thereforeseektoincreasetheirpolitical,socialandeconomicparticipation,aswellasaddressingtheirneedsandadvocatingfortheirinterests.

Manyinitiativesfocusondemocraticparticipationandleadershiptrainingforwomen,suchasinLiberia,wherelocalinitiativeshavehelpedincreasefemalevotingrates.71Elsewhere,theBurundiLeadershipTrainingProgramwasfoundtohaveincreasedthenumberofwomencandidatesandcouncillorsinthe2015localelections.72

TheBurundiLeadershipTrainingProgram–initiallyestablishedbyaninternationalorganization,butnowfullyBurundian‑led–trainedover900womeninleadershipskillsandencouragedwomentostandinthe2015localelections.Thiscontributedtoa19%increaseinfemaleofficeholdersincolline(ward)councilsinMuramviaandGitegaprovincesfromthe2010tothe2015elections,anda33%increase,from18to24,amongchefs de colline(wardchiefs).

TheNGOAssistanceMissionforAfrica(AMA)helpswomeninSouthSudanplayagreaterroleincommunitygovernance,asmembersoftraditionalcourts,inter‑ethniccouncilsandlocalpeacecommittees.73 AcrossAMA’svariousprogrammelocations,women’sparticipationwasfoundtohavereachedatleast30%(andoftenhigher)inlocalforums,fromalowbase.Womenspokeupmoreinpublicmeetings,andwerereadiertochallengelocaladministrators,chiefsandeldersincommunityforums.Theypersuadedyoungmentostopcattlelootingandcommittingrevengekillings,speakingbothasmothersandwithacommunityvoice.Womenalsoconductedoutreachwithneighbouringcommunities,helpingtobuildpeacefulrelationsandpreventviolence.

ArecentreportexploringthepeacebuildingroleofwomeninSomaliaidentifiessomeofthewayswomenhavepreventedviolenceandbuiltpeace.Theyhavepersuadedmenandboystorefrainfromviolence,createdlinesofcommunicationwithwomeninopposingclans,raisedawareness,demonstratedinpublic,andadvocatedwithclanleadersandmediators.74


Gender‑basedviolence,particularlyagainstwomenandgirls,isprevalentinconflictcontexts,bothasapracticeincommunitiesandasanoutcomeandtoolofconflictitself.Thismeansprevention,justice,andthecareandrecoveryofvictimsisacommonpriorityoflocalpeacebuildingprogrammes.Somewhatunexpectedly,therewerelimitedevaluationsofthisworkinthedatasetstudied.Thatsaid,anumberoffemale‑ledNGOswerefoundtohavebeensuccessfulinimprovingthereintegrationofwomenrapedbyarmedgroupsintheeasternDRCbackintotheircommunities.75

‘The peace committee from the other side was not able to get involved. We had to change tactics and involved the youth and women. We sat and talked. That was the time the tension reduced.’

– Local peace committee member,

75 AlexisM.GardellaandEricKalaba,‘CitizenshipAndPeacebuildingInTheDemocraticRepublicOfCongo:FinalEvaluation’,March2009.76 ‘Portals2PeaceandNationalActionPlanEvaluationreport,2019’,AssistanceMissionforAfricaandPAX,2019.

Thesewomenmightotherwisehavebeenstigmatizedandrejected.InSouthSudan,AMApromotedpublicdiscussionandawareness‑raisingregardingthepracticeofmenbeatingtheirwives.Thishelpedreducetheprevalenceofthispractice,andincreasetheproportionofmenaccusedofviolenceagainstwomenbeingtakentocourt.Policebecamemoresensitivetotheneedsofwomenvictims,whiletraditionalcourtsbecamelesslikelytoignoreaccusationsofgender‑basedviolence,partlybecausemorewomenweresittingasjudges.Thisimprovedthedynamicsofthejusticeprocess,withmoreattentionandrespectbeingpaidtofemalewitnessesandwomen’srights.Malejudgesassertedthathavingwomenjudgeshadimprovedthecourts’effectiveness.76


Lessons learnedLocalpeacebuilderswhoengagespecificsegmentsofthecommunityhaveclearlyshowntheycanmakeadifference.Bytailoringtheirinitiativestothosewhoseexperienceofconflicthasleftthemtraumatized,toyoungpeoplewhosooftenbecomethetoolsofconflictentrepreneursorgangs,andtowomenwhosepotentialtocontributetopeacehasbeenoverlooked,theyhavehelpedthesegroupsbegintoshapemorepeacefulsocieties.Theseinitiativesareseenasrelevantbythepeopletheyseektoassist,asevidencedbythelevelsofparticipation,andasacknowledgedbytheevaluationsreviewed.

Figure7showshowthesetailoredinitiativeshavehadanimpactinallthedimensionsofourimpactframework.Menhaveimprovedtheirattitudetotheinclusionofwomeningovernancemechanisms,andyoungpeople’sknowledgeofandattitudestowardsotherethnicgroupshasbecomemoreconducivetopeace.Communitiesbehavedifferentlytowardsoneanother,andtheirstructuralapproachestodecision‑makingandlocalgovernancehavebecomemoreinclusive.

Bothhorizontalandverticalrelationshipshaveimprovedasaresultoftheselocalinitiatives.Thiscanbeseenintheincidenceofinter‑ethnicfriendshipsamongyoungpeopleinSriLanka,dispute‑resolutionmechanismscrossingethniclinesinSouthSudan,andtheincreasedgovernanceparticipationoftraumatizedcommunitymembersinRwanda.

Finally,localinitiativeshavecontributedtoreducedelectoralviolenceinBurundi,aswellasreducedgang‑relatedviolenceinanumberofurbancontextsmakinguseoftheCureViolencemethodology.


Figure 7. Three domains and three levels of peacebuilding impact, with illustrations from initiatives engaging specific groups

Levels →

Domains ↓




Increasedreadinesstoacceptex‑fightersbackintothecommunity

Improvedknowledgeofpeacefulapproaches,andoptimism,amongyoungpeoplelivingincontextswhereviolenceisnormalized

Reducedvulnerabilityofyoungpeopletorecruitmentbyextremists,orforelectionviolence

Reducedelectionviolence

Reductioningangviolence

Rapevictimsacceptedandreintegratedintotheircommunity

Youngpeopletakingtheleadtoorganizepeacebuildingactivities

Womenadvocatingpeacefulbehavioramongyoungmen

Courtstakinggender‑basedviolencemoreseriously


Acknowledgementthatfellowcitizenshavebeentraumatizedbytheirexperiencesandneedhelp

Improvedattitudestocommunityfollowingtraumahealing

Increasedtolerancetowards‘other’groups

Improvedcommunityties,collaborationandmutualsupportfollowingtraumahealing

Newlybuiltrelationshipsacrossreligiousorethnicdivides

Inter‑communitycouncils


Menacceptingthatgender‑basedviolenceisunacceptable

Moreengagementincivicactivities

Increaseinyoungpeopleandwomenvoting

Morewomenstandingforelectedpublicofficeandincourts


Three important lessons emerge from analysis of the examples used in this chapter (and will be revisited in Chapter 6):

77 JacobusCilliers,OeindrillaDubaandBilalSiddiqui,‘CantheRuinsofWarbeHealed?ExperimentalEvidencefromSierraLeone’,ImpactEvaluationReport75,InternationalInitiativeforImpactEvaluation,May2018.

78 Youth,Peace&Security,‘TheMissingPeace:IndependentProgressStudyonYouthPeaceandSecurity’,UNFPAandUNPBSO,2018.

Community‑based trauma healing initiatives are effective, and need to be sustained

Low‑costinitiativesthataddressindividuals’traumaaswellasthatoftheircommunitiescanbehighlyeffective,asshownbytheexamplesfromZimbabweandRwanda.However,thedataalsoimpliesaneedforgreatersustainedaction.Despiteconsiderableimprovements,23%ofRwandeseparticipantsstillsufferedfromdepression,andinZimbabwe64%oftorturevictimshadnotyetshownsignificantclinicalimprovement.ThiscorroboratesfindingsfromtheFambulTokprogrammeinSierraLeone,wherecommunityreconciliationappearedtobeassociatedwithindividualsexperiencingincreasedanxietyanddepression,perhapssuggestinganimbalancebetweenthefocusoncommunityandonindividuals’needs.77Allthisindicatesthatwhileeffective,relativelylow‑costtraumahealingmodelsdoexist,theyneedtobesupportedbyappropriatelytrainedpeople,achieveawell‑judgedbalancebetweenafocusontheindividualandthecommunity,andbesustainedoverseveralyears.

Young people can be agents of change

Justaslocalviolenceentrepreneurscanreadilyrecruityoungpeopleforviolence,localinitiativescanreadilydiverttheirenergiesfromviolenceanddisruptionintoplayingapositiverole.Youngpeople,giventhechance,demonstratethattheycanplayleadershiprolesindefiningthefutureofthesocietiestheywillinherit.Thedemographicprofileinmanyconflict‑pronesocietiesistiltedtowardsyouth,andtheiralienationandsusceptibilitytobeingdrawnintoconflictshouldtherefore,astheUNhasstated,beamajorpriority.78Moresupportshouldthereforebegiventolocalinitiativesthathelpyoungpeoplechanneltheirenergiesintopeacefuldevelopment.

There is a lack of data on the effectiveness of local initiatives to prevent violent extremism, and of local women’s initiatives

Thepeacebuildingliteraturerightlyemphasisestheneedformorewomen’sengagementinpeacebuilding,andincreasedattentiontoissuesexperiencedbywomenandgirlsasvictimsofviolentconflict.Similarly,inrecentyearstherehasbeenawidespreadcallforprogrammesthatworkwithyoungpeoplewhoarevulnerabletobeingrecruitedforviolentextremismandthataddresstheunderlyingreasonsforthisvulnerability.Despitethis,veryfewevaluationsexaminedforthisstudyaddressedthesequestions.Whilethismaysimplybeduetothetimingoftheresearchandnatureofthecallforevidence,itwouldbeworryingifitindicatedalackofvisiblesupportfor,andevaluationof,localinitiativesworkingontheseissues.


5 Shaping public discourse and policy, and early‑warning networks

This report demonstrates that even relatively small‑scale initiatives and impacts matter for peace. Beyond this, though, many local peacebuilding initiatives also have an impact on a wider scale. Indeed, many of the oft‑rehearsed narratives of successful peacebuilding fit into this category. Examples include the Borama political dialogue process in Somaliland;79 mediation by the Inter‑religious Council of Sierra Leone in peace talks between the Revolutionary United Front rebels and the state;80 women activists who shaped the speed and content of the Liberian peace process;81 and the Otpor! student movement,82 which mobilized thousands of young people and influenced Serbia’s political direction towards peace.83

79 AlexdeWaal,The Real Politics of the Horn of Africa: Money, War and the Business of Power,Cambridge:PolityPress,2015.80 MariaJessop,DianaAljetsandBetsieChacko,‘TheRipeMomentforCivilSociety’,International Negotiation(2008)13:93–109.81 GlobalNonviolentActionDatabase,‘LiberianWomenActtoEndCivilWar,2003’.Availablefrom:

https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/liberian‑women‑act‑end‑civil‑war‑200382 Отпор,or‘resistance’inSerbian.83 DylanMathews,War Prevention Works: 50 Stories of Conflict Resolution,London:OxfordResearchGroup,2001.

However,thesewerenot‘projects’,andlikemanylocally‑driveninitiativesitishardtofindformalevaluationsoftheirimpact.Thismeanstheyareoutsidethescopeofthisreport,despitetheirimpactbeinginlittledoubt.AsshownbyFigure8,thedatasetforthisreportdidhowevercontainexamplesofinitiativeswithimpactsatahighlevelandonawidescale.

Theexamplesfallunderthreeheadings:Effortstoreshapepublicdiscourse;advocacythatledtochangedgovernmentpolicies;andnetworksofearly‑warninginterventionsthatpreventedviolence.

Figure 8. Proportions of initiatives reviewed for this report, per the scale of impact they achieved

Individual/household Local community

District

National International

State/province

23%

35%14%

12%

15%1%

https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/liberian-women-act-end-civil-war-2003


Shaping public discourse

84 TatianaKyselova,‘UnderstandingDialogueinUkraine:ASurvey‑BasedStudy,AnalyticalReport2018’,MediationandDialogueResearchCenter,Kyiv,2018.

Languagehasenormouspower.Thewayleadersandelitesframeissuesinfluenceshowothercitizensinterpretandengagewiththem.Publicdiscourse–howpeopleviewandspeakofothers,andofconflictissues–affectshowconflictsarehandledinsociety.Thissectiondescribesattemptstoinfluencepublicdiscourseinsupportofpeace.ItcitesexamplesofdialogueinitiativesinUkraine,GuineaBissauandSomalia;ofchangesinhowjournalistsapproachpeaceandconflictissuesinNepalandSomalia;andofapproachestoreconciliationandtolerancebetweenethnicandreligiouscommunitiesinSriLankaandIndonesia.

Dialogueisfrequentlyusedbypeacebuilderstoimprovecollaborationandreducetensions.Yetsomedecision‑makersdoubtitsutility.Withthisinmind,theMediationandDialogueResearchCenterinKyivstudied157dialogueprocessesconductedbyover60organizationsinUkraineduring2014–18.Theyfoundthatdialoguepractitionersfacedmanypracticalobstacles,linkedtosecurity,facilitationandthedifficultyofgettingpeoplewithextremeviewstotakepart.TheyalsofoundthatfewdialoguesdirectlyaddressedthedeeperquestionsofidentityunderlyingmanyconflictsinUkraine.

Nevertheless,dialoguesthataddressedverypracticalissuesenabledparticipantstoachieveconsensusontangibleoutcomes,suchasagreeingawayforwardtoresolvetheissueunderdiscussion,orgettinglocalauthoritiestopaymoreattentiontopeople’sneeds.Bothmenandwomenwerefoundtoparticipatefully,with76%ofrespondentsassessingtheirparticipationpositively,and89%sayingthatdialoguehadimprovedtheirunderstandingoftheviewsofand/orrelationswithotherparticipants.GivendialogueisusedfrequentlyacrossUkraine,thesefindingsimplythatithashelpedsoftenintra‑andinter‑communityrelationscumulativelyandwidely.84

Inmorethan150dialogueprocessesinUkraine,76%ofparticipantssaidtheexperiencewaspositive,while86%saiddialoguehadimprovedtheirunderstandingofand/orrelationstowardsothers.

‘I began to better understand those who have different opinions and to make efforts to see the situation through the eyes of different participants. And I practise it now. This dialogue clearly influenced my understanding and attitude towards everything that was going on, not only with respect to the dialogue topic but also in general, with respect to relations between the people in the country. This helps me now in my work as a tourist guide, when I have to talk about complex historical issues with people from different parts of the country and from abroad.’

– Dialogue participant, Ukraine


GuineaBissauhasbeenaffectedbyconflict,underpinnedbyinadequategovernance,sincebeforegainingindependencein1973.LocalorganizationVozdiPazbeganpeacebuildinginitiativesadecadeafterthe1998/99civilwar,aimingtofosteracultureofdialoguewherenoneexisted,andtoovercomewhatitsawastheelite’shabitualdisregardofcitizens’needs.Itranaseriesofregionalandnationaldialoguestoexplorevisionsofpeaceanddevelopment,witha2011evaluationconcludingthatgoodprogresshadbeenmade.Peoplehadtakenadvantageofthedialoguestoresolvelocalconflictsandimprovelocalgovernance–goingbeyondwhatVozdiPazhadintended.ThedialogueapproachusedbyVozdiPazwasalsoformallyadoptedforaNationalConferencedesignedtoformalizenewgovernancearrangements.Thus,theuseofdialoguewasbecomingnormalized.85

Journalistsalsoplayaroleinshapingpublicdiscourse,influencinghowcitizensperceiveandcomprehendconflictissues.Theycansometimescontributetoconflict,eitherintentionallythroughskewedanalysisandexaggerateduseoflanguage,orunintentionallythroughlazy,ill‑informedorconflict‑insensitivereporting.SeparateinitiativesinNepalandSomaliaaimedtoimprovetheconflict‑sensitivityofmediareporting.Todothis,andprofessionalizethesector,theFederationofNepaliJournalists(FNJ)traineditsmembersinethicalandconflict‑sensitivereporting.

85 AnnetteEnglert,‘ConsultancyontheEvaluationoftheINTERPEACEVozdiPazProgrammeinGuinea‑Bissau(2009–2010)’,June2011.86 RuthSimpson,‘EvaluationReportforSAFEMediaNepal:ASafe,Able,FreeandEmpoweredMediaforthePromotionofHumanRights,

DemocracyandPeaceinNepal’,InternationalAlert,August2014.87 PhilipThomas,‘PillarsofPeace&Democratization:FinalExternalAssessment’,FinalReport,D3Associates,2016.

A2014evaluationfoundthatmostjournalistswhohadtakenpartdemonstratedincreasedunderstandingofthelinkbetweenreportingandsecurity.Almostallreportedchangingtheirbehaviorasaresult–improvingtheirreporting,beingmoresecurityconscious,andpayingmoreattentiontotheunderlyingcausesofconflictandtheimpactofwhattheybroadcastorwrote.TheFNJestablishedapermanenttrainingwing,andpersuadedthegovernmenttosubsidisethis.86

EvaluationsfoundtwoorganizationsinPuntlandandSomalilandhadachievedsimilarimprovements.TheAssociationforPeaceandDevelopment(APD)andthePeaceandDevelopmentResearchCenter(PDRC)providedtrainingtojournalists,helpingthemmakedemonstrableimprovementsintheirethicalstandardsandconflict‑sensitivity,aswellasbroadeningtheirawarenessofwomen’sissuesandtheissuesconfrontingremote,peripheralcommunities,wheremanyconflictsarise.87

Reconciliationisanotherissuestronglylinkedtopublicdiscourse.TheCentreforPeaceBuildingandReconciliation(CPBR)promotedreconciliationinSriLankaafterthebrutalmilitarydefeatoftheLiberationTigersofTamilEelamin2009broughtthe26‑yearcivilwartoanend.Thoughthewarwasover,underlyingconflictsremainedunresolved,includingconflictsbetweendifferentethno‑religiouscommunities,andbetweentheTamilcommunityandthestate.


TheCPBR,basedinColombo,initiatedaprogrammepromotingreconciliationandhealing,withafocusonimprovingrelationsbetweenethno‑religiousidentitygroups.Itbroughtreligiousleaderstogetherforaseriesofworkshops.TheseimprovedcommunicationandtrustbetweenHindu,Muslim,ChristianandBuddhistleaders,allowingthemtoexploretheunderlyingreasonsforthecivilwar,andtotakeactionsintheirowncommunitiestoaddressthem.88

IntolerantreligiousdiscoursealsosustainsconflictinIndonesia,wherenetworksoflocalorganizationshavecollaboratedtoincreasefreedomofreligiousbelief.Religiousintoleranceisbothculturallyandpoliticallyingrainedinmanypartsofthecountry,andsometimessupportedbythestate.Thismeansthepotentialforconflictisstructurallymaintained.Tocounterthis,civilsocietyorganizationshavebeenconductingawareness‑raisingandadvocacyforreligiousfreedominthreeprovinces–WestTimor,AcehandJava–amidaclimateofgrowingreligiousintolerance.

88 RosemaryCairns,‘AnEvaluationof“StrengtheningLocallyLedPeacebuilding”’,PeaceDirect,May2011.89 AsfinawatidanTatiKrisnawaty,‘FacilitatingFreedomofReligionandBelief:EvaluationReportofTheAFSCProgramPeriodof2013–2015’,

AmericanFriends’ServiceCommittee,2016.

‘Now, as a result [of the Centre for Peace Building and Reconciliation’s work], you can see that children from all communities are staying together and playing. Since the nature of the activities was made known to families, so they desire the same kind of relationship with other communities. Even some of the other religious communities are coming to Hindu kovils, and we go to their worship places for some functions. We have really changed – you can see.’

– Siva Sri Sivabalan Anjaz, retired civil servant from Batticaloa, Sri Lanka

A2016evaluationoftheirworkfoundtheywerebeginningtomakeprogressinchangingattitudesbetweenpeoplefromdifferentreligiouscommunities.TheiradvocacyhelpedallowthreechurchesinYogaykartatoobtainlicencestore‑open,aftertheauthoritieshadclosedthemdown.Additionally,governmentagenciesinAcehhadbeguntoreachouttocivilsocietyasapotentialpartnerinchangingthediscourse,afterseeinghowinterfaithgroupshadworkedtogethertoresistintolerance.However,evaluatorsalsonotedthatprogresshadbeenslowandincremental,andwouldlikelyremainsogiventhestructuralnatureofpublicattitudes.89


Changing public policy and decision‑making mechanisms

90 FrancoisLenfant,‘MakingWomen’sVoicesHeardinPeacebuildingandReconciliationinBurundi’,InternationalAlert,2013.91 PhilipThomas,‘PillarsofPeace&Democratization:FinalExternalAssessment’,FinalReport,D3Associates,2016.

Governmentpolicydefinesinstitutionalbehaviorsthateithersupportorundermineprogresstowardspeace,meaningpeacebuildinginitiativesfrequentlyincludeadvocacydesignedtoinfluencechanges–orpreventnegativechanges–inpublicpoliciesanddecision‑makingmechanisms.ThissectiondrawsonexamplesofadvocacythatimprovedpoliciestowardswomeninBurundi,andpersuadedstategovernmentstoadoptnewgovernanceapproachesinSomalia.

InBurundi,thewomen’speacebuildingnetworkDushirehamweandtheumbrellabodyforwomen’sorganizationsCollectifdesAssociationsetONGsFémininesauBurundi(CAFOB)workedtogethertoembedwomen’sconcernsinthenationalpolicyagenda.Theyspecificallytargetedthe2012PovertyReductionStrategy,asetofpoliciesdevelopedtoguidepublicanddonorresourceallocation.Dushirehamweisanationwidenetwork,withmembersimplementingpeaceinitiativesincommunitiesacrossthecountry.Exploitingthisreach,itorganizedabroadandparticipatoryconsultationprocessinordertoagreeasetofpolicyprioritiestohelpwomeninsupportofpeace.Theseincludedimprovedmeasuresagainstsexualandgender‑basedviolence,equalrightsandgreaterrepresentationforwomen,andeconomicpoliciesdesignedtosupportruralwomen.Asaresultoftheiradvocacy,13peaceanddevelopmentprioritieswereincludedingovernmentpolicy,outof18demandsraised.90

IntheBurundiexample,womenactivistsarguedtheircaseaspoliticaloutsiders.Anotherroutetoadvocacyisthroughprovidingpracticalassistancetothegovernment,usingthisasanopportunityforinsiderinfluence.TheAPDandthePDRC,workinginSomalilandandPuntlandrespectively,bothsecuredchangesingovernmentpoliciesandprocessesthatweredesignedtoimprovestabilityandpeace.Theorganizationsprovidedpracticalsupportoveranumberofyears,facilitatingconsultationanddialogueprocessesthathelpedtheirrespectivegovernmentsclarifycriticalneedsandpoliciesonpeace‑relatedissues,suchaslandandelectoralreform.Byengaginginsupportofthestate,theywereinapositiontohelpedshapetheresultingpoliciesinlinewiththeneedsofpeace.Furthermore,bydemonstratingtheeffectivenessofdialogue‑basedconsultationmechanisms,theypersuadedtheSomalilandandPuntlandgovernmentstoadoptandinstitutionalizeparticipatoryconsultationandanalysisapproaches.91


TheAPDfacilitatedaconsultativeprocessthatrevisedthelegalmandateofthepoliceinSomaliland,whilethePDRChelpedcreateaneighbourhoodwatchprogrammeinPuntland–bothstepstowardsgreatertrustbetweenpoliceandcommunities,providingastrongerfoundationfortheruleoflaw.TheAPDfacilitatedmulti‑stakeholderdialoguesinSomalilandthatresultedinDiyaEnforcementCommittees,designedtopreventclandisputesescalatingintoviolence.ItalsoorganizedandsupportedlocaldialoguesandanationalLandManagementConference,leadingtotheinstitutionalizationofadecision‑makingprocessaimedatreducingthefrequencyandescalationoflanddisputes–acommonsourceofviolentconflict.AsimilarinitiativebySomaliPeaceLineinSomalia’sLowerShabelleregionalsointroducednewdialogueandnegotiationapproachesinordertoresolvelocaldisputesoverlandandothernaturalresources.92

92 AbdifatahMohamedHikamandMarkM.Rogers,‘Community‑BasedBottom‑UpPeacebuildingProject:ImplementationEvaluationReport’,TheLife&PeaceInstituteandSomaliPeaceLine,2017.


Early warning, early interventionThissectionpresentstwoexamplesofinitiativesthatsuccessfullypromotednon‑violencebyidentifyingsituationsatriskandthenmobilizingpeopletopreventit.Thefirstoftheseisanonymizedbecauseofpoliticalsensitivities,butdrawsonanumberofindependentevaluations(seeCaseStudy4).

Case Study 4. Boendoe Early‑Warning Network93

Inthiscase,anetworkwasformedbyseveralcivilsocietyorganizations,andalmost200individuals,coveringalldistrictsofachronicallyunstablecountrythathadundergoneseveralcyclesoforganizedviolence,andwasparticularlyatriskfromelectionviolence.Collaboratingunderthesharedgoalofbuildingamorepeacefulsociety,thenetworkoperatednationally,whilesupportingmemberswhowereactiveintheirlocalareas.

Thenetworkprovidedtrainingandsupporttomembers,helpingthemmobilizelocalactionstopreventorde‑escalateviolence,and,whereappropriate,toinitiatelonger‑termpeacebuildingactions.Italsohelpedthemtolinkupwithandmobilizelocalgovernmentandothersincivilsociety.Additionally,itconductedlobbying,aswellasorganizingreconciliationprocessesbetweenpoliticalparties.Inasituationwherecooperationamongcivilsocietyactivistswasoftenmadedifficultbythetensionsinthewidersocietytheyrepresented,thenetworkmodelledeffectivecollaborationthroughitsdecentralizedgovernanceoflocalchapters.

Inatwo‑yearperiod,almost5,600incidentswerereportedbynetworkmembers.Itsactionsareacknowledgedashavingreducedviolencelocally,aswellashavinginfluencedinternationalactionsandapproachestothecountryinquestion.

Asoneoftheinstigatorsandleadersofthenetworksaid:

‘Iidentified40organizationsthatweredoingreallyimportant,goodworkinthecountrybutwereisolated;therewasnospacereallyforthemtocometogethertocollaborate,andtheywantedto!Somewereworkingwithyouthinoneprovince,othersworkingwithwomenintheirlittlecorner,othersalsoworkingwithex‑combatantsbutonlyinoneprovince—yousee?Therewasalotofwillingnesstocollaborateandtocoordinateefforts.Thenetworkofferedthatspace.’

93 KielyBarnard‑Webster,‘”StrengthIsFromAUnion;WorkingTogetherYouGoFar”:UnderstandingCollectiveImpactUsinganAnalyticFramework’,CDA,2018.


AsecondcaseconcernsunarmedcivilianprotectionvolunteersoperatinginseveraldifferentpartsofMyanmar.AlthoughtrainedandsupportedbytheinternationalorganizationNonviolentPeaceforce,thesewerelocalvolunteersoperatingontheirowninitiative.Operatinginacontextofunstable,long‑termceasefirearrangementsbetweengovernmentforcesandrebels,theyintervenedwhenpotentialoractualoutbreaksofviolenceriskedpeople’slives,aswellasthefragilepeaceitself.AswiththeBoendoenetwork,theirabilitytointervenelocallywasstrengthenedbybeingpartofawidernetwork.

‘There was a heavy attack near Moenyin city. We successfully negotiated with the army chief. So the civilians can go free from war zone.’

– Civilian protection volunteers from Kachin, Myanmar.

94 EllenFurnari,‘StrengtheningCivilianCapacitiesforPeace’,NonviolentPeaceforce,July2018.

A2018evaluationreportednumerousincidentsinwhichvolunteershadhelpedsustainthepeaceacrossdifferentpartsofthecountry.Actionsincludedrescuingciviliansfromcrossfire;organizingdialoguetopreventimminentoutbreaksofviolence;obtainingthereleaseofforciblyrecruitedyouthandillegallydetainedcivilians;helpingdisplacedpeoplefleeoutbreaksoffightingandconnecttohumanitarianaid;stoppinganillegalminingoperation;addressinglandissues;andraisingawarenessofthepeaceprocessamongthousandsofpeople.

Manyofthevolunteerswerealreadyleadersintheircommunity,andothers,especiallywomen,becameleadersthroughtheirparticipation.94


Lessons learned‘Local’peacebuildinghasimpactsonawiderscopeandscalethanthenameinitiallyimplies,acrossthethreelevelsanddomainsoftheproposedimpactframework(seeFigure9).Itsrelevanceisconfirmedbytherelativelyrapiduptakeofadvocacysuggestionsbygovernments,andbypeople’swillingnesstoparticipateindialogueandotherprocesses.InUkraine,localdialogueapproacheshavesuccessfullychangedpeople’sknowledgeof,andattitudestowards,others,whileinitiativesinIndonesiaandSriLankahavechangedattitudestowardspeopleofotherreligions.

MembersoftheFederationofNepaliJournalistshaveadoptednewbehaviors,changinghowtheyreportedconflict‑relatedstories.InSomalilandandPuntland,newapproachestodecision‑makingandconflictresolutionhavebeenformallyadoptedasstructuralchanges.Theanonymizedcivilsocietynetwork,alongwithpeaceactivistsinMyanmar,havereducedtheriskofviolenceintheirrespectivecontexts.Meanwhile,verticalrelationshaveimprovedinGuineaBissauandSomalia,andhorizontalrelationsimprovedinUkraineandSriLanka.

Figure 9. Three domains and three levels of peacebuilding impact, with illustrations from national and early‑warning initiatives

Levels →

Domains ↓




Journalistshaveimprovedunderstandingofhowtheirwordscandriveconflictorpeace

Volunteersmediatebetweenwarringpartiestopreventoutbreaksoffighting

Journaliststakemorecaretoavoidexacerbatingviolence

Early‑warningmechanismspreventviolence

Localauthoritiesandsecurityservicesrespondtoearly‑warninginformation


Improvedunderstandingoftheviewsofothers

Increasedtolerancetowardsotheridentitygroups

Betterrelationshipswithothers

Religiousleadersbuildimprovedrelationsbetweentheircommunities

Interfaithactivismreducesintolerance

Agreedsolutionstoconflictissuesachievedindialogue


Authoritieswillingtotrynew,moreopen,governanceapproaches

Authoritieslisteningtocitizens’viewsmore,duetodialogue/consultationapproaches,andrespondingtoreportsofviolence

Newformalapproachesforpolicyconsultationandconflictresolutionadoptedbythestate

Governmentsadoptpro‑peacepolicies


Four lessons in particular emerge from this chapter (which will also be picked up again in Chapter 6):

Scaling up

Ifoneoftheconstraintsforlocalpeacebuildingisthedifficultyofachievingscale,thenthischapteroffersideasonthiscanbeachieved.Theexamplesstudiedillustratethreemodelsofscalingup:• Advocatingforpolicychanges,andthushavingapotentialimpactacrosstheentirepolity;

• Usingfederationsornetworksofindividualmembers,asisthecasewiththejournalistsinNepalorthecivilianvolunteersinMyanmar;

• Collaboratinginnetworksofcomplementaryorganizationsinordertoachieveagreaterimpactlocally,whilecombininggrassrootswithnationalaction.ThisisthemodelusedbytheBoendoenetwork,byCSOsinIndonesia,andbythewomen’sadvocacyorganizationsinBurundi.

The attractions and limits of dialogue

Thischapteroffersintriguinginsightsabouttheattractionsandlimitsofdialogueapproaches.Ontheonehand,governmentsandcitizensinUkraine,GuineaBissau,SomalilandandPuntlandsawtherelevanceofdialogueapproachestotheirneeds,whichsuggeststhatdialoguemethodscanbereadilyadoptedandachievepolicygainsforpeace,evenintheshortterm.Theisespeciallythecasefortangibleissuesrequiringaconsensusonaconcreteplanofaction.Ontheotherhand,researchersinUkrainefoundthatdialogueprocessestendedtoexcludethosewithmoreextremeviews,andthatdialoguewaslessaptfordealingwithdeeper,underlyingaspectsofconflict–suchasquestionsofidentity–whichcanobstructpathwaystopeace.

Thisimpliesachoiceforlocalpeacebuilders.Theycaneithercontinueusingdialoguetechniquestohelppeopleresolvetangiblequestionsrequiringtangibleplans,ortheycandeveloptheskillsandmethodstoaddressthedeeperquestionsonwhichmoreextremeviewstendtobeheld.

The slow, incremental nature of influencing public discourse

Severaloftheevaluationsstudiedforthischaptereitherstateexplicitlyorimplythatachievingmajorpolicychange,orinfluencingpublicdiscoursesustainably,isalong‑termenterpriserequiringasustainedapproach.GainsinreligioustoleranceinIndonesiawereseenassmallstepsonamuchlongerpath;itisnotclearwhetherthepolicychangesinBurundi,GuineaBissau,SomalilandandPuntlandweretranslatedfullyfrompapertoaction;andtheveryfactthatBoendoenetworkmembersprefertoremainanonymousspeakseloquentlyabouttheincompletenatureoftheirachievementssofar.Allthisindicatedtheneedforcontinuedandcarefulsupportoflocalpeacebuildingactions,overmanyyears.

The lack of evaluations of national‑level peacebuilding

Thischapteropenedwithareferencetoseveralsuccessful,national‑levelpeacebuildinginitiatives.Despitebeingwell‑known,theyhavenotnecessarilybeenevaluatedanddocumentedobjectively.Itwouldhelpmaketheargumentinsupportofhigh‑levellocalpeacebuildingactivitiesifalargercorpusofobjectiveevaluationswasavailable.


6 Findings and recommendations

Asthereportdemonstrates,localpeacebuildinginitiativesareoftenhighlyeffective.Therefore,atatimewhendonorsandinternationalorganizationsarediscussinghowtoredoubletheireffortstoachieveSDG16by2030,itiscriticalthatlocalvoicesbeincludedandtheirachievementscelebrated.Moreover,localpeacebuildinginitiativesneedtobebetteracknowledgedandbettersupported.

TheimpactsdiscussedinChapters3–5aresummarizedinFigure10below.Theydemonstratethatlocalinitiativesimprovetheknowledge,attitudesandbehaviors,aswellasthenormsandstructures,onwhichpeaceisbuilt.Itisnotablethat,whilechangingattitudesandknowledgeisoftenseenaseasierthanchangingbehavior,allthreecolumnsinFigure10containstrongexamplesofimpact.Clearly,localinitiativesmakeasubstantialdifference.


Figure 10. Summary of some of the impacts in this report, in three domains and at three levels

Levels →

Domains ↓




Improvedoptimismandknowledgeofpeacefulapproachestoaddressingproblems

Opinionformersbetterunderstandhowtheirwordscanshapepeaceorconflict

Increasedreadinessincommunitiestoacceptbackex‑fighters,refugeesandothers

Localdisputesresolved

Mediationbetweenconflictpartiespreventsfighting

Opinionformerstakemorecarewiththeirwordsandactions

Early‑warningmechanismspreventviolence

Reducedvulnerabilityofyouthtorecruitmenttoviolence

Communitiesaresafer

Armedgroupsacceptandfollowviolencereductionmechanisms

Women,youngpeopleandothersproactivelyadvocatenon‑violence

Gender‑basedviolencetakenmoreseriouslyincourts


Improvedunderstandingoftheviewsandproblemsfacedby‘others’

Increasedtrust,toleranceandforgiveness

Improvedunderstandingofunderlyingreasonsforconflict

Improvedattitudestowards/reducedalienationfromthecommunity

Proactivepeaceactionsbyethnic,religiousandcommunityleaderstoimprovehorizontaltiesandcohesion

Mutualsupportactions

Peopleactivelybuildpracticallinksandimprovedrelationswith‘other’groups

Reintegrationofreturningrefugees

Practicalsolutionstoconflictsachievedthroughdialogue

Increasedcommitmenttousenon‑violentmechanismstoresolveconflicts

Intra‑andinter‑communitybodiesarepetitionedtohelpsolvedisputesandbuildpeace;someexpandtheirgeographicandsectoralmandate


Improvedmutualunderstandingbetweenauthoritiesandcitizensonconflictualissues

Dialogueandothermechanismsallowauthoritiestolistenandconsultmorereadily

Problemsandrelationswithsecurityservicesandarmedgroupsresolved

Increasedengagementin‘civic’activities

Increasedvotingrates

Newgovernanceapproachesforconflictresolutionandpolicyadoptedbycommunities,localandnationalgovernment,andotherswithpower

Community‑basedpeaceinitiativesandothermechanismsintegratewomen,youngpeopleandminoritiesintodecision‑making

Morewomenstandingforandachievingoffice

Improvedpopularparticipationindecision‑makingandaccountability

Governmentsadoptpro‑peacepolicies


What helps local peacebuilding succeed?Thisreportreviewedavarietyofinitiatives,fromdiversecontexts.Basedonthese,thefollowingconclusionsaboutthequalitiesofsuccessfullocalpeacebuildinginitiativescanbedrawn:

Cumulative impact

Small‑scalepeacebuildinginterventionscananddohaveacumulativeimpact.Thisisespeciallythecasewhentheypersistoveralongperiodoftime,expandthescopeoftheiractions,wherethereisaclusteringeffect,orwheninitiativeslinkup.TheactionsoftheColombianpeasants’associationcreatedameasureofsustainedstabilityovertwodecades,withallpartiesacceptingasetofrulesthatallowedlocalcommunitiesrelativesecurityindifficultcircumstances.Manylocalinitiativeshaveaknock‑oneffect,improvinginclusionandgovernance.Somecommunity‑basedinitiativesgrowinscopeorscale,includingpotentiallyexpandingtheirmandate–forexampletoincludeawider‘developmental’rolethanthenarrowerviolencepreventionmandatetheystartedwith.Othersexpandgeographically,attherequestofneighbouringcommunities.Whilefewoftheevaluationsexplicitlyorthoroughlyexaminetheeffectofclustering,somedofindevidenceofthis.Forexample,thecombinedimpactofvariouslocalpeacestructurespresentacrosspartofSouthKivuintheDRCwasgreaterthanthesumoftheparts.Finally,theexamplesofDushirehamweandCAFOBinBurundi,andoftheBoendoenetworkelsewhere,showthebenefitsthatcanbeachievedbyformalcollaborationbasedonasharedgoal.

Cost‑effectiveness

Localinitiativesuselow‑cost,technicallyappropriateapproaches.Localentitiesarebynaturelesscostlythaninternationalorganizations,cantapintolocalvolunteerism,andemploytechniques–suchasthenon‑clinicalpsychosocialmethodsusedbyTreeofLifeinZimbabwe,andgrassrootsmobilizationofadvocacyideasthroughtheDushirehamwenetworkinBurundi–thatarerealisticallyreplicableinaconstrainedbudgetenvironment,andthusscalable.

Practical orientation

Localinitiativestendtobepracticallyoriented.Theyapplypracticalapproachestoaddresstangibleissuesrequiringconcreteoutcomes,ratherthanbeingframedintermsofabstracttheoreticalconceptssuchas‘peace’,‘stability’and‘inclusion’.Whilenotexplicitlytestedintheevaluationsconsideredforthisreport,itisreasonabletospeculatethatthisfocusonpracticalactionisoneofthereasonspeoplefindlocalinitiativestoberelevant,andwhytheysupportandparticipateinthem.TheexamplefromColombia,inwhichrepresentativesofpeasantfamiliesdevisedacomplexsecurityschemerequiringagreementfrom,anddisciplinedapplicationby,communitiesandarmedgroups,standsoutasapowerfulillustration.


Relevance

Localinitiativesareseenasrelevantbylocalstakeholders,andthisallowsthemtoachievehighlevelsofparticipationandsupport.Mostevaluationsfoundtheactivitiestheyexaminedtobebothrelevantontheirownterms,anddeemedrelevantbylocalactors.Thisisparticularlytrueofgrassrootsinitiatives,andofinitiativesconductedbyandwithparticulartargetgroups.Theseareabletotapintocommunitysupport,especiallyfromthosewhoseintereststheyrepresent.Therelevanceofadvocacyisdemonstratedbytherelativelyrapiduptakeofmanyadvocacyproposals,whiletherelevanceofdialogueisdemonstratedbythereadyadoptionofdialogueoutcomes.

Localpeacebuildingisalsorelevantthroughouttheconflictcycle.Forexample,localpeacebuilderspreventedoutbreaksofviolenceinBurundi,reducedlevelsofviolenceinsituationsofchronicconflictinColombiaandSudan,andenabledcommunitiestorecoverfrom,andbuildtheirresilienceto,conflictinSierraLeoneandRwanda.

95 ‘Portals2PeaceandNationalActionPlanEvaluationreport,2019’,AssistanceMissionforAfricaandPAX,2019.

Local knowledge

Localpeacebuilders’contextualknowledgeandnetworksallowthemtomobilizecourageandleadership,aswellastheconsiderablecapacityandpotentialthatexistswithinsociety.Togivejustoneexample,whenSouthSudanesewomenwereempoweredbynewpeacebuildingknowledgeandskills,andbytheirparticipationinlocalpeacecommittees,theyproceededundertheirowndirectiontoconvinceyoungmenincattlecampstorefrainfromviolencetowardsotherethnicgroups.95Manyoftheinitiativesreviewedforthisreportalsoshowedevidenceofrapidadaptability,especiallygrassroots,community‑basedactions.Thisstemsfromtheirclosenesstotheground,theirresponsivenesstolocalstakeholders,andperhapsalsoalackofbureaucraticrestrictionswhencomparedwithinternationalprojects.

Working with the grain, to change the grain

Localinitiativesmobilizelatentpopularenergyforbehavioralandstructuralchange.Manyevaluationsreviewedforthisreportnotedthehighlevelofsupportforchangeamongcitizensandleadershipfigures.People’spotentialtocontributetopeacebuildingisoftenuntapped,butlocalinitiativescanprovidethemwithopportunitiestomakeacontribution.Inparticular,bycreatingopportunitiesforwomenandyoungpeople,peacebuilderswereabletomobilizetheiruntappedenergyandsupport.Localleaderswerealsomobilizedtoparticipateinnewapproachestopeacebuilding,whichsuggeststhatlocalpeacebuildinginitiativescaninspireandcreateopportunitiesevenforthoseinpositionsofapparentpowerwithinthestatusquo.


Inotherwords,whilelocalinitiativesengagewithandbuildonexistingnormsandmechanisms,theycanalsochangethem.ExamplesincludepartneringwiththeSomalilandgovernmenttohelpitdevelopnewpro‑peacepolicies,orcollaboratingwithcommunitychiefsongrassrootsinitiativesintheDRC.Thereisalwaysariskinsuchcircumstancesthattheirmorepowerfulcollaborators,andthenormsandsystemstheyrepresent,willobstructchange.However,localpeacebuildersarewell‑placed‘toworkwithgrain,tochangethegrain’,thatis,tocarrytheseactorsalongwiththemaschampionsofchange.Thisisevidencedbythewidespreadacceptanceofwomenandminoritiesincommunity‑basedpeaceinitiatives,ofteninapparentlyconservativeruralareas,andbythewillingnessofthoseinpowertoexplorealternativegovernancemechanisms.

Connections

Localinitiativesreflectthebreadthandinterconnectednessofpeaceandconflictfactors.Peacebuildingtheorytellsusthatpeacecanbebuiltandsustainedthroughimprovementsacrossaverybroadrangeofissues,andlocalpeaceinitiativesconfirmthis.Fromtheexamplesreviewedforthisreport,itisclearthatlocalpeacebuildersattributepeacetoawidevarietyoffactors,includingpersonalandcommunitysecurity,accesstoeconomicopportunity,improvedgovernanceandjustice,andsocialwell‑being.

Restoring trust

Localinitiativescanoftenleadtoimprovementsinrelationsandtrustwithinandbetweencommunities.Theimpactofcommunity‑basedinitiativesinpost‑warSierraLeone,wherecommunitiesregainedasenseofmutualtrust,andofDinkaandNuergroupsbuildingmutualtrustinSouthSudan,illustratethiswell.Thisreadinesssuggeststhattrustisalatentpublicgood,andthatlocalactorsarewell‑placedtobringittothesurfacewhencircumstancesallow.


Challenges

96 StacyHilliard,EugeneNtagandaandKatieBartholomew,‘SocietalHealing&ParticipatoryGovernance:Mid‑TermEvaluation’,TayshaConsulting,March2017.

97 JacobusCilliers,OeindrillaDubaandBilalSiddiqui,‘CantheRuinsofWarbeHealed?ExperimentalEvidencefromSierraLeone’,ImpactEvaluationReport75,InternationalInitiativeforImpactEvaluation,May2018.

98 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.99 TatianaKyselova,‘UnderstandingDialogueinUkraine:ASurvey‑BasedStudy,AnalyticalReport2018’,MediationandDialogueResearch

Center,Kyiv,2018.100 MarkM.RogersandDrHippolytPul,‘LearningFromandAboutLocalPeaceGroups:ThematicEvaluationReport’,ConciliationResources.

Whilethereisplentyofevidenceofsuccessfullocalpeacebuilding,anyapproachtobuildingpeacehaslimits,andlocalinitiativesdonotalwaysfullysucceed.Somearepoorlyconceivedorexecuted,whileothersareunderminedbyexternalcircumstances.Someoftheevaluationsstudiedsoundnotesofcaution,withonesimplystatingthattheinitiativeinquestionhadfailedbecausetheorganizationhadoverreacheditself.

Evenapproachesthatworkdonotsucceedineverycase.Forexample,noteveryonesufferingfrompost‑traumaticstresscanexpecttobehealed.AsoneRwandeseparticipantsaid,‘Theprogrammecan’taddressallconsequencesofgenocide.Ilostmyfamilymembersandtheywillnevercomeback.Isometimesdon’tgohomebecauseIhavenoonetofindthere.’96

InSierraLeone,meanwhile,whilereconciliationwassuccessfulatacommunitylevel,someindividualsreportedincreasedanxietyanddepressionfor,suggestingtheprocesshadstirredupfeelingsandmemoriesithadnotaddressed.97Thisisareminderoftheneedtoevaluateregularly,identifychallengesasearlyaspossible,andprovidetechnicalsupporttomeetsuchchallengeswhentheyareidentified.

Somecommunity‑basedpeaceinitiativesareunderminedbylocalleaderswhofeartheirroleisbeingusurped,andtheirstatusandincomeputatrisk,orbyspoilerswhoseinterestsareill‑servedbystability.Ontheothersideofthecoin,someinitiativesriskbeinginstrumentalizedandco‑optedforpoliticalgain.98

Therelianceonvolunteerismisadouble‑edgedsword.Ontheonehanditensuresownershipandlocalknowledge,whileontheotheritpotentiallyexcludesthosewholackthetimeorresourcestogetinvolved.DialogueprocessesinUkraineprovideanexampleofinadvertentexclusion,withdialogueorganizersunabletoinvolvepeoplewithextremeviews.99Elsewhere,attemptsatinclusionareresistedduetopatriarchalattitudes,orprejudiceagainstminorities.

Wheninitiativesgaverisetonewbodies–newcommunity‑basedpeacestructures,forexample–theserisksupplantingexistinggovernancemechanisms,therebyweakeningthelatter’sabilitytoundertakeitsgovernanceandsecurityfunctionsinpursuitofpeace.100Citizens’willingnesstogetinvolvedshouldnotbetheexcusefortheauthoritiestodisengage.


Finally,incommonwithothersocialchangeactivists,localpeacebuilderswerenotalwaysabletoconvertattitudinalandknowledgechangeintonewbehaviorsandpractices.Forexample,54%ofparticipantsinasurveyinSierraLeonefeltthat,whiletheycouldacknowledgewhattheyhadlearnedabouthowtoco‑existpeacefully,theyhadyettodrawonitconsciouslytoinformtheirownrelationships.101Otherinitiativesfoundpeople’sintolerancehardertoshiftthanhadbeenhoped,102orthatthecynicismofeliteleaderswashighlyresilienttoadvocacy.103Thestructuralobstaclestopeaceoftenneedtobeaddressedovermanyyearsbeforetheybegintoshift.

101 MohammedAbu‑NimerandSusanShepler,‘FambulTokProgramEvaluation’,April2015.102 AsfinawatidanTatiKrisnawaty,‘FacilitatingFreedomofReligionandBelief:EvaluationReportofTheAFSCProgramPeriodof2013–2015’,

AmericanFriends’ServiceCommittee,2016.103 AnnetteEnglert,‘ConsultancyontheEvaluationoftheINTERPEACEVozdiPazProgrammeinGuinea‑Bissau(2009–2010)’,June2011.

Thesefindingsdonotunderminetheimportanceoflocalpeacebuilding,butmerelyunderlinetheneedforlocalpeacebuilderstoensuretheymatchtheirambitionswithappropriateresourcesandcapacity,andemployeffectivemonitoringandevaluation.Giventhatmonitoringandevaluationapproachesarestillbeingexploredinthepeacebuildingsectorasawhole,thisisapotentialareaforexternalsupportandcollaboration.


Areas and mechanisms for supportFourareaspotentialareasofexternalsupportcanbeidentifiedbasedontheevaluationssurveyedforthisreport:Increasedsupportinsituationsofchronicviolence,scalingup,sustainabilityandevaluation.Thishasimplicationsforwhichmodelsofsupportareappropriate.

Increased support to local initiatives in situations of chronic violence

Howshouldweconsiderlocalinitiativesthat,althoughsuccessfulontheirownterms,arevulnerabletodeteriorationinthewidercontext?DoesthefactthattheDRC,forexample,remainsdeeplyaffectedbychronicandviolentpoliticalconflictsunderminetheimportanceoflocalinitiativesthere?Suchinitiativescannot,afterall,beexpectedtobringsuchconflictstoanendintheshortterm.

Theresearchreviewedsuggeststhatlocalinitiativesremainimportant,andmaybeevenmoreimportant,incaseswherehigher‑levelorwiderconflictspersist.Localpeacebuildershavedemonstrablyimprovedpeople’saccesstopeaceincountriessuchasBurundi,DRC,Myanmar,SouthSudanandSudan,evenwhilewiderconflictsremainunresolved.Suchconflictsmaytakemanyyearstoresolve,andmayrecurevenafterformalpeaceagreementsandsettlementshavebeenachieved.Theabilitytopreventviolence,therefore,aswellasimprovingrelationsbetweenandamongpeople,andbetweenpeopleandthoseinpower,remainscritical.Thisimpliesincreasedsupportforlocalinitiativesisneededinsuchcontexts.

Scaling up

Nevertheless,theimpactsoflocalpeacebuildinginitiativescansometimesseemisolated,andtheyriskbeingoverwhelmedbyexternaldynamics.Whilethisisnotareasontodismissthem,itdoessuggesttheneedforscalingupwherepossible.Theevaluationssurveyedidentifyseveralwayslocalinitiativeshavedonethis,forexamplebyformalandinformalnetworking,orexpandingtheirmandateorscale.

Manyevaluations,though,identifyunexploitedscale‑upopportunities,particularlyopportunitiesforsynergybetweendifferentinitiatives.Evenso,itwouldbeamistaketoassumethatalllocalinitiativeshavethecapacitytoexpandorreachouttoothers.Anyattemptatscalingupshouldbebasedonaclear‑eyedassessmentofcapacityandopportunity,anddrivenbytheorganizationsorcommunitiesthemselves,ratherthanbyexternaldemands.Nevertheless,opportunitiesforlinkingandscalinguppeacebuildingactionsandimpactsmeritfurtherexploration.Thisispotentiallyanareawherecarefulexternalsupportcouldhelplocalinitiativesincreasethescopeanddepthoftheirimpact.


Sustainability

Thisresearchconductedforthisreportwasunabletoassesstheongoingsustainabilityoflocalinitiativesbeyondthetimeframeinwhichtheywereevaluated.Whilemanyarereportedasalreadybecomingembeddedinlocalbehaviorsandstructures,anumberofevaluationreportsrecommendfurthereffortstoimprovesustainability.Convertingknowledgeandattitudinalchangeintobehavioralchangeisnotagiven,andconvertingbehavioralchangeintonewnormsandstructurescanbeevenmoreofachallenge.Thereisthereforeaneedtosustainlocalinitiativeslongenoughfortheirimpactstobecomefirmlyembedded–forseveralyears,atleast.

The evaluation deficit

ThisreportidentifiedsuccessfulexamplesoflocalpeacebuildingbasedonadatasetofevaluationssubmittedinresponsetoacallthatwassentoutinEnglish,primarilytoformalpeacebuildingorganizations.ThiswassupplementedbyinternetsearchesandthroughexistingDM&Edatabases.Whilethisestablishedadatasetsufficientfortheresearch,italsoexposedgapsinreadilyavailableevaluationdata.Thereappearstobeadeficitofindependent,objectiveevaluationsoflocalpeacebuildingimpact,andespeciallyofeffortsthat:• Contributedtostabilizationandsustainablepeaceataprovincialornationallevel;

• Areunconnectedtonationalorinternationalprogrammes;

• Areinformalinnature,i.e.notimplementedbyorganizationsassuch;

• Aredefinedintermsotherthanpeacebuilding,yethavehadasignificantimpactonpeace;

• Arecontinuedoveralongperiodoftimeandthusprovideanopportunitytoevaluatetheirsustainability.

Furthermore,theevaluationsreviewedtendtostopatthelimitsoftheactionsunderreview,andseldomaskwiderquestionsabouttheinfluenceoftheinitiativeonpeacewritlarge,i.e.peaceonawider,societalscale.Askingthisquestioninevaluationswouldnotonlyallowreviewerstoexplorethewiderimpactsofaspecificlocalinitiative,itwouldalsohelphighlightopportunitiesforsynergyandscalingup.


Partnership and support models

Whilethisreportisnotspecificallyfocusedonmodelsofsupportforlocalinitiatives,severaloftheevaluationsrevieweddiscussthis.Indeed,manyoftheevaluationswerecommissionedbyinternationalagenciesasaresultoftheirsupporttolocalorganizations.104Inafewcases,thelocalorganizationshadthemselvesbeenestablishedby,oremergedfrom,programmesrunbyinternationalNGOs.Thesewereconsideredeligibleforthereport,providedtheyhadsubsistedindependentlyforanumberofyears,andwerelocallyled.

Broadly,theevaluationscontaintwomainfindingsaboutsupportmodels.Thefirstisthatthecombinationoflocalandinternationalhasmuchtorecommendit.Partnersareabletoblendlocalknowledge,capacityandinterestswithskillsandknowledgegainedfromotherconflictzones,andinternationalsarealsoabletosecurefinancialresources.Thesecondisthat,insomecases,localvoicesarebeingdrownedoutinplanningandreporting,unabletotaketheinitiativeastheyshould.Theevaluationsrecommendedmoreequalpartnershipstopreventthisformofdisempowerment.

104 Amongthese:AmericanFriendsServiceCommittee,CARE,ChristianAid,ConciliationResources,Cordaid,CureViolence,InternationalAlert,Interpeace,Life&PeaceInstitute,NonviolentPeaceforce,PAX,PeaceDirect,PeacefulChangeInitiative,SearchforCommonGround,andYCareInternational.

Itisalsoworthrepeatingthatevaluationscommissionedbyinternationalprogrammesoftenfailtodifferentiatetheimpactsorrolesoflocalpartnersfromthoseoftheirinternationalcollaborators.Evenwhentheydo,manyfailtoclarifytheextenttowhichtheformerareingenuineleadershippositions,devisingtheirowninitiativesratherthanmerelyimplementingothers’priorities.Internationalorganizationshaveanincentivetopresentoutcomesandimpactsastheirs,evenwhentheyshouldrightlybeattributedtolocalpartners.Evaluationreportsshouldthereforedifferentiaterolesandimpactsmoreclearly,andreportexplicitlyontheindependenceoflocalpartners.


Recommendations

105 UNSustainableDevelopmentGoalsKnowledgePlatform.See:https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg16106 InstituteforEconomics&Peace,‘GlobalPeaceIndex2018:MeasuringPeaceinaComplexWorld’,June2018.Availablefrom:

http://visionofhumanity.org/reports107 UNSecurityCouncilResolution2282(2016),SustainingPeace.108 Youth,Peace&Security,‘TheMissingPeace:IndependentProgressStudyonYouthPeaceandSecurity’,UNFPAandUNPBSO,2018.109 CharterforChange:LocalisationofHumanitarianAid.See:https://charter4change.org/

SDG16requirestheworldtohavemadesignificantprogresstowardssustainablepeaceby2030.105Meanwhile,thedatashowsthattheworldisgoingintheoppositedirection.106UNSecurityCouncilResolution2282onSustainingPeacemandatestheUNanditsmemberstatestoimplementandsupportpeacebuildinginitiativesatallstagesoftheconflictcycle,and‘reaffirmstheimportanceofnationalownershipandleadershipinpeacebuilding,wherebytheresponsibilityforsustainingpeaceisbroadlysharedbytheGovernmentandallothernationalstakeholdersandunderlinestheimportance[…]ofinclusivity’.107Italsoreaffirmsthatwomen’sleadershipandparticipationisessential,whiletherecentUNreport,‘ProgressStudyonYouth,PeaceandSecurity’,calledforyoungpeopletobeatthecentreofpeacebuildingapproaches.108 Thesestatementsarematchedbyotherinternationalpolicies,andbypeacebuildingtheory,whichconsistentlystatethatlocalinitiativesareessentialforpeace.

Whilethereisnosharedpolicybenchmarkfortheminimumproportionofpeacebuildingaidthatshouldbegiventolocalinitiatives,noraccuratedataabouttheproportionthatiscurrentlyflowingtolocalinitiatives,theCharterforChange–whichcallsforthe‘localization’ofhumanitarianaid–hassettheinitialbenchmarkat20%oftotalhumanitarianfunding.109

Implementationofthesepoliciesandprinciplesatscalehasbeenconspicuouslylackingsofar.Asthisreportclearlydemonstrates,localpeacebuildersaremakingasubstantialimpact,butneedmoresupporttoexpandanddeepentheirefforts.TheUNisinthemiddleofamajorreformofitsapproachestopeacebuilding,andofitsimplementationapproachesmoregenerally.ProgresstowardsSDG16isunderreviewin2019.Thefollowingrecommendationsarethereforetimely,andareaimedprimarilyatdonors,multilateralsandinternationalNGOsintheaidsystem:

https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg16

http://visionofhumanity.org/reports

https://charter4change.org/


1. Increase levels of sustained funding to local peacebuilding initiatives at all stages of the conflict cycle, in ways that respect their leadership and autonomy

• Supportlocalpeacebuildersindevising,leadingandimplementingtheirowninitiatives,usingfundinginstrumentsthatallowthemtoremainresponsivetolocalstakeholders,andadapttheirapproachesrapidlyandindependentlywhennecessary;

• Useflexiblefundingmodelsincludingcorefunding,andsustainthesethroughrepeatedfive‑yearfundingcycles,toallowlocalinitiativestimetohaveameasurableimpactandconvertchangedknowledgeandattitudesintonewbehaviorsandstructuralchange;

• Auditthevolumeoffundingcurrentlyappliedtolocalpeacebuildinginitiatives,andmaketimeboundpubliccommitmentstoincreasethistoatleast20%ofallpeacebuildingfunds.

2. Collaborate with and support local peacebuilders to help maximize their direct and indirect impact

• Supportlocalpeacebuilderswhowishtotestandevaluatemodelsforscalinguptheirinitiativesandimpacts,forexamplebyexpandingtheirscopeandscale,andlinkingupwithothers;

• Providetechnicalsupporttolocalpeacebuilders,basedonacollaborativeanalysisoftheiropportunitiesandneeds,andonthecomplementarityoflocalandinternationalknowledgeandcapacity;

• Supportlocalcivilsocietyinvolvementinandinfluenceovernationalpeaceprocesses;

• Usepoliticalinfluencetoprotectandenlargethespaceforcivilsociety.

3. Support local peacebuilders to generate and take advantage of learning about what works locally

• Collaboratewithlocalpeacebuilderstofundanddisseminatemoreexternalevaluationsoftheirinitiatives,consideringinparticularinitiativesthatarelessformalorvisible,thoseconductedatnationallevel,thosethatpreventviolentextremism,andthoseundertakenbywomen;

• Commissionanddisseminateresearchintoprogresstowards‘peacewritlarge’inspecificcontexts,disaggregatingthevariouscontributionsoflocalandexternalinitiatives,andidentifyingtheimpactofsynergiesbetweenthem;

• Requireevaluatorstospecifythedistinctroleandimpactsoflocalpeacebuildersinassessmentsoflargerprogrammesinwhichtheyplayapart,andtoassessthedegreetowhichtheyhavespacetoexerciseleadershipandautonomy.

4. Adapt the way donors, multi‑lateral organizations and international NGOs work, to make it easier to collaborate with and support local peacebuilders, and for local peacebuilders to access support

• Simplifygrantallocationandmanagement,withastrongerfocusonmutualtrustandcollaboration;useadaptiveprogramming;lightenthecomplianceburdenonbothpartiesbyadoptingagreatertoleranceofrisk;andtailorprogrammedesignandgrantapplicationprocessessothatlocalinitiativesarewelcomedandincluded;

• Re‑alignperformancemanagementsystemssostaffareincentivizedtospendmoretimewithlocalcivilsocietyactors,andprovidemoresupporttolocalinitiatives;

• Alignrecruitmentandprovidetrainingsostaffhavetheknowledge,skillsandexperiencetoworkeffectivelyandconflict‑sensitivelywithlocalpeacebuilders;

• Designcountrystrategiesandprogrammestobemoreinclusiveoflocalvoicesandactions,andreflectiveoftheirrolesandpriorities;

• Makegrantstointernationalorganizationscontingentontheirsupportforandcollaborationwithlocalinitiatives.

The online interactive version of this report can be found at: www.peaceinsight.org/reports/whatworks

About the Alliance for PeacebuildingTheAllianceforPeacebuilding(AfP)istheleadingglobalpeacebuildingnetwork,withmorethan100memberorganizationsworkingin153countriestoendviolentconflictandsustainpeace.Webringtogethercoalitionsinkeyareasofstrategy,policy,andevaluationtoelevatetheentirepeacebuildingfield,tacklingissuestoolargeforanyoneorganizationtoaddressalone.www.allianceforpeacebuilding.org

About Peace DirectPeaceDirectworkswithlocalpeopletostopviolenceandbuildsustainablepeace.Webelievethatlocalpeopleshouldleadallpeacebuildingefforts,andthisreportexplorestheeffectivenessoflocalpeacebuilding,sharingrealandimpactfulinitiativesfromaroundtheworld.www.peacedirect.orgwww.peaceinsight.org

Registeredcharity1123241.Registered501(c)(3)

http://www.peaceinsight.org/reports/whatworks

http://www.allianceforpeacebuilding.org

http://www.peacedirect.org

http://www.peaceinsight.org