Fall 08

Discussion paper

Nov 2016

Dialogue for Peace Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region

NGO partners

This project has been implemented in partnership with the following national NGOs:

ABC Development is a registered NGO in , established in 1998. It is a member of the West Africa Action on Small Arms and WANEP in Guinea. In partnership with Conciliation Resources, ABC Development set up the DPD in Forécariah, which has led dialogue between mining companies and communities in the surrounding region.

Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD) was founded in in 2000 (as the Liberia Democratic Institute) and serves on several civil society networks in Liberia that engage in policy influencing. It works to strengthen citizens’ voices and engender a culture of local participation in policy development and implementation.

Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) in is an advocacy and national civil society organisation, established in 1988. It has a wide range of experiences working in partnership with national and international institutions to build capacities, create and influence policies on mining, governance, peace and security and youth empowerment.

West Africa Network for Peacebuilding–Côte d’Ivoire (WANEP-CI) is the Ivorian branch of WANEP, a leading regional peacebuilding organisation founded in 1998 operating in every ECOWAS member state. WANEP is experienced in bringing people together through dialogue platforms to promote social cohesion and reconciliation, and coordinating regional civil society engagement.

Acknowledgements This report has been produced as part of a European Union funded project, entitled “Responding to Ebola driven conflict: Facilitating dialogue in the Mano River border regions.” For any further information about the project, please contact: Janet Adama Mohammed, West Africa Programme Director, [email protected] or visit: http://www.c-r.org/where-we-work/west-africa

Neither this report nor the project would have been possible without the help and assistance of a great number of people. Conciliation Resources and our national NGO partners extend particularly thanks to all members of the District Platforms for Dialogue in the Mano River region for their immense time, effort and commitment over the course of this project. We are also grateful to the communities in the border regions of the Mano River region who openly and whole-heartedly engaged with this project.

We express our immense gratitude to the European Union whose generous financial support has made this project and publication possible. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of Conciliation Resources and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Supported by the:

Cover image: Bohi Nazère (R), Toulépleu DPD Chairperson, talking with a local Police official and Forest Ranger ©Conciliation Resources

Sierra Leonean Police checkpoint at the Bo-Waterside border crossing with Liberia ©Conciliation Resources/Aubrey Wade

were established in 2015 as part of a project Introduction to address tensions exacerbated by the 2014- 2016 Ebola crisis. Conciliation Resources and our national NGO partners believe that one way to mitigate Conciliation Resources has constantly looked tensions and violent conflict is to help build to use the lessons from each project to adapt the capacity of local people so that they have and improve the effectiveness of the DPDs the ability, opportunity and motivation to be and the support they are offered. This report positive agents for change in their represents an effort to document some of community. Since 2010, Conciliation the key lessons from this period. It is hoped Resources has worked in partnership with that these reflections will be a useful national NGOs to establish and empower a resource for others who are currently network of 18 locally owned peacebuilding adopting, or planning to adopt, a model that structures, called District Platforms for utilises similar community peace platforms. Dialogue (DPDs), in the border regions of This report provides an outline of the Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra structure and operating model of the DPDs, Leone. These community peace platforms the role that international and national are supported to mitigate local conflicts and partners can play in supporting the DPDs, to advocate duty bearers to respond to and then reflects on eight of the most insecurities in a more appropriate manner, pertinent lessons from our work for which takes into consideration the concerns improving effectiveness and the prospects and views of local populations. for long-term sustainability.

The network of DPDs has steadily grown through a series of projects. Six DPDs were Background: Instability in the established in 2010 as part of a UK Mano River border regions Department for International Development funded project to address governance, These platforms look to respond to decades transparency and accountability issues in the of instability and insecurity in the border border districts. A further four were districts of the four Mano River region established along the Ivorian-Liberian border countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and in 2013 to build local capacities and Sierra Leone. The porous borders in the strengthen resilience in the face of cross- Mano River region means that security border attacks. Most recently, eight DPDs threats and political tensions from one

Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region 1

Map showing the location of DPDs and the geographical range of their work ©Conciliation Resources country regularly spill over into neighbouring the border regions as a base to recruit, train countries and threaten the whole region’s and launch attacks from. Local communities prospects for a durable peace. in the border regions have been the victim of not just violence from these groups, but also Weak civilian-government relations; high of extreme pressure and abusive actions levels of economic, social and political from the military and other security marginalisation; accusations of endemic institutions during times of political tension corruption; and a deeply divided society that or instability. The relationship between has not dealt with the legacies of civil wars border region communities and government and political uprisings drive societal tensions is therefore further weakened, as they in the Mano River region. Whilst these issues question not just the government’s capacity are pervasive across the region, it is in the to protect them but also their desire to do so. border regions that these tensions are particularly prone to escalating into violent It is in this context that the devastating 2014- conflict. In the border regions feelings of 2016 Ebola crisis took hold. The crisis served marginalisation are particularly intense as to accentuate the pre-existing mistrust and justice, education, healthcare and security sources of division within society. The mechanisms remain largely ineffective and rampant suspicion of national governments insufficient whilst populations continue to led to widespread accusations that lack sustainable livelihood opportunities. governments were purposefully harming Border region communities perceive the their citizens. Whilst the World Health centre-periphery political, social and Organisation declared the epidemic over in economic dynamics of the region to be June 2016, the legacies of the crisis and the indicative of the respective governments associated tensions remain. wilfully maintaining historic inequalities. This enduring sense of marginalisation has resulted in very weak civilian-government An introduction to the DPD relations in the border regions. model In addition to this, the porous borders, lack The DPDs are a network of community- of effective security apparatus and weak based structures working to mitigate local infrastructure mean that the Mano River conflicts through dialogue and mediation in border regions have tended to attract 18 border districts of the Mano River region. militias, armed groups and ex-combatants. The DPDs work on four interlinked streams These non-state armed actors tend to use

2 Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region

Tewor District DPD facilitate dialogue with community members in Camp 3, Liberia ©Conciliation Resources/IREDD

of work: they identify emerging conflicts, the current ‘Responding to Ebola-driven undertake sensitisation on the conflict conflict: Facilitating dialogue in the Mano issues, facilitate dialogue to mitigate the River border regions’ project, funded by the escalation of violent conflict, and engage European Union. duty bearers to advocate for more appropriate responses to community Community Sensitisation insecurity. DPDs provide information to communities to Conflict and context analysis raise awareness and sensitise the local populations about sources of conflict within DPDs have been trained to undertake regular the communities. This has included providing participatory conflict and context analysis in information about current national and their respective communities. This allows regional policies and their implications for the DPDs to gain a deeper understanding of citizens living in the border regions, the underlying drivers of tensions, the power informing people of their rights and relations of the stakeholders in conflict and responsibilities as citizens and raising any opportunities for peace. To ensure awareness of major developments in their conflict-sensitivity and to enhance the districts. prospects for peace it is critical that this At the height of the Ebola crisis DPDs played process is fully inclusive and reaches out to very significant roles in their communities in listen to the perspective of all parties in raising awareness around the Ebola virus conflict and other stakeholders in the and how it could be managed. This included community. Regular conflict and context informing communities about national and analysis has served as an early warning tool, international response mechanisms, which allows the DPDs to respond to growing including the byelaws implemented as part tensions before they escalate into violent of the State of Emergency, the quarantine conflicts. process and restrictions on the movement of For example the DPDs identified people. This community sensitisation helped deteriorating trust and weakening demystify the taken-for-granted beliefs and relationships between communities, families broke the cultural barriers that could have of victims, survivors, health workers and led to some of the most pervasive tensions security officials during the Ebola crisis as a arising from the management of the Ebola potential risk to the relative peace in the crisis. region. It was this analysis that directly led to

Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region 3

Advocacy in Pujehun: Case study

In Sierra Leone, Ebola burial protocols Engagements by the Pujehun DPD highlighted continued to be implemented even after the these delays as a prominent driver of tension Ebola outbreak had been officially declared in the community. The DPD worked with the over in order to protect against any further Pujehun Burial Team Supervisor to outbreaks. This means that all bodies, successfully advocate for government to whether the cause of death was suspected to decentralise and expand the number of district be Ebola or not, needed to be swabbed and burial teams from two to four. Increasing the removed by a specialist burial team. However, number of burial teams and decentralising as the outbreak declined and international them has drastically improved burial team assistance departed, the number of response times in the district. The DPD’s early designated burial teams was steadily warning of and quick response to the emerging reduced. The remote nature of the border tensions helped mitigate the risk of them regions and the small number of burial teams needlessly escalating any further. means that there was often a delay of 3-5 days to pick-up bodies.

Facilitating Dialogue consider local concerns and needs, when engaging with communities and responding DPDs create safe spaces to facilitate local to emergency situations. In working dialogue and mediation to prevent and collaboratively with local authorities and mitigate tensions in the border region. This security officials the DPDs have positively provides all parties with the opportunity to stimulated effective early responses to local express their grievances and propose concerns, which could have easily escalated possible solutions in a constructive and to violent conflict. peaceful manner. It is critical that these dialogues are fully inclusive and provide those who tend to be marginalised or The role of Conciliation unheard in these processes with the Resources and national NGO opportunity to present their grievances. Having heard from everyone, the DPDs partners support all parties to work together to Conciliation Resources works in partnership identify common solutions to resolve the with the Institute for Research and tensions. Upon finding a common solution to Democratic Development (IREDD) in Liberia, conflicts, the DPDs continue their the Network Movement for Justice and engagement with the respective parties to Development (NMJD) in Sierra Leone, ABC- monitor whether the commitments are being Development in Guinea and the West Africa implemented and to track how the Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) in Côte reconciliation process is going. d’Ivoire to support the DPDs. Conciliation Advocacy and early warning Resources and these national NGO partners provide the DPDs with the skills and DPDs are supported to channel their findings knowledge to implement their work more and the voice of local communities to local effectively. Conciliation Resources and and national duty bearers. Being comprised partners also assist them with the leverage of a range of local people with community and connections to access prominent local trust and goodwill, the DPD has a strong and national actors. This enables them to collective voice with which to engage better raise the voice of border populations government and security officials and other to the national, regional and international influential stakeholders. The DPDs strive to level. embolden these duty bearers to employ more conflict-sensitive approaches, which

4 Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region

This support to improve the effectiveness approaches and ideas from which other and impact of the DPDs’ work is achieved members could learn from to improve the through a number of different work streams, effectiveness of their own work. In which includes providing training, capacity- recognition of this, Conciliation Resources building and shared-learning opportunities; and partners support the DPDs to undertake coordinating the DPDs’ strategic peer learning and shared exchange interventions; and undertaking advocacy with programmes. This is done both through actors that the DPDs themselves are unable formal workshops but also through to access. strengthening links and communication within the network. For example, the Sierra Training and accompaniment Leone DPDs are connected through a WhatsApp group that enables them to share DPD effectiveness is enhanced through the information and insights on an ongoing basis. provision of training and resources, expertise and accompaniment from national NGO Coordination partners and Conciliation Resources. DPD members are empowered to understand the Conciliation Resources and partners support role of the DPD and be active citizens DPDs to think about how they can use their working for change in their community. resources to intervene in the most strategic and impactful way. This includes supporting DPD members possess a myriad of pre- them to identify opportunities for existing expertise, which are of immense intervention and how to use their financial value to their work, however they do not and human resources to best achieve this. always have previous knowledge and This support is provided remotely, through experience of peacebuilding. It is important regular accompaniment in the region and in to supplement the skills and expertise of the quarterly review meetings where they plan DPD members in a way that makes the most and budget their upcoming work. of their pre-existing skills whilst also ensuring their capacity to effectively mitigate DPDs report their work and lessons on a local tensions. To guarantee a universal monthly basis. This allows Conciliation minimum standard, all DPD members are Resources and partners to monitor the trained in conflict transformation, dialogue progress of their work and the challenges and mediation and tools for social they face. This provides the opportunity to accountability. identify ways to overcome barriers to their In addition to this, many of the DPDs, work in a timely manner. especially those most rooted in remote community areas, have limited prior Advocacy at the national, regional experience and knowledge of the systematic and international level and formal planning, monitoring, reporting, The DPD model emphasises the need for advocacy, and gender and conflict sensitivity local ownership of peacebuilding initiatives that is required for effective project and promotes local agency in advocating for implementation. The DPDs are therefore change in their communities. For this also trained and supported to build their reason, advocacy and duty bearer skills in these areas. These skills are engagement forms a key element of the invaluable to the long-term sustainability of work of the DPDs. However, Conciliation the model. Resources and our partners recognise that Whilst each DPD is an individual entity the DPDs, as locally based actors, have working on their own issues, they collectively limited capacity and leverage to influence comprise a network of 18 platforms spread policy at the national, regional and across four countries. Across this network, international level. In these instances, we there is a huge range of experiences, collate the lessons and messages from the

Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region 5

“We listen to the DPD because they are like family. They are our brothers and sisters…”

Seny Lamah (L), who was stigmatised after losing seven family members during the Ebola crisis, explains why she and her community listened to members of the Nzérékoré DPD, such as Hélène Zogbelemou (R) ©Conciliation Resources

actors in the border areas and raise their identify and respond to the sources of voices and recommendations to these duty greatest concern and emerging conflicts in bearers. Where possible, we facilitate some their communities. The locally based nature DPD members to participate in national and of the DPD provides them with a deep regional meetings so that they are understanding of the social, cultural and represented, their role is acknowledged and political dynamics of the communities they they are able to verify the messages. work. This intrinsic knowledge allows for more conflict-sensitive, and therefore Lessons Learnt – Improving effective, interventions. Most importantly however, the locally owned the effectiveness of and representative nature of the DPD community peace platforms enhances their trust amongst the local population. For the DPD to be viewed as Since 2010, the DPDs have faced many representative of the community, it is critical challenges but also had significant that the members are respected individuals successes. Learning from these experiences committed to change drawn from every part has allowed Conciliation Resources, national of the community. To achieve this, when a NGO partners and the DPD members to DPD is established community members, continuously modify and adapt our work and community-based organisations and how we support one another. Over this time, associations and other local stakeholders there have been many lessons however this are responsible for identifying and report has identified eight of the most critical nominating the members of the DPD. The lessons for improving the effectiveness of diverse, democratic and locally owned nature community peace platforms. of membership ensures the DPD, as a collective, is trusted by and has the 1. Community trust and confidence of all sectors of society. These confidence is key key characteristics provide the DPD with the ability and legitimacy to bring together and At the core of the success of the DPD model mediate between any divided groups in their is that it is owned by and representative of community. the communities that it serves. This enables timely, well-targeted and relevant In addition, this legitimacy amongst a wide interventions as they are able to quickly range of the community means that the DPDs are viewed as possessing a

6 Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region

representative voice that can express the members of the DPD and in these instances concerns and needs of the whole community. their role is primarily to serve as a liaison between the communities and the DPD One of the most prominent drivers of tension without actively being involved in the throughout the Mano River border regions is implementation of the DPD actions. the mistrust and suspicion that pervades the relationship between local citizens and their The focal point system allows for the DPDs to local government and security officials. The expand the geographical scope and reach of DPDs use their voice to serve as an the work so that, as of present, the 18 DPDs intermediary between local authorities and work in a total of 170 border region the communities. The DPDs work with local communities. This system also serves to communities to raise awareness and provide reinforce the linkages between the DPD and information about important issues. They the local communities and, in so doing, also provide local communities with the enhances the early response of DPDs to skills and confidence to use this information emerging conflicts. and knowledge to engage with state actors in a proactive and non-violent manner. Over Recommendation: Decentralising the time, this can erode the mistrust and structure of community peace platforms suspicion and lead to a more constructive helps to widen the scope of efforts to more and collaborative relationship between the remote communities, furthers local local authorities and the local population. ownership and enables quicker responses to conflict. Recommendation: Processes must be established to ensure every sector of the 3. Recognition of and community has a sense of ownership over collaboration with other actors community peace platforms and they know Community-based peacebuilding initiatives that they are free to participate in its need to be attentive and considerate of the activities and will be heard. roles, skills and value of pre-existing 2. Widening the reach of the DPD interventions and the government. DPDs and other similar initiatives must have the self- On first glances, the DPDs’ influence and awareness to recognise not just where they work appears to be limited to just 18 border can add value but also their limitations and communities. However, in addition to where when other actors are better placed to they are based, the DPDs work in remote intervene. By doing this, interventions communities nearby that ask for their complement one another rather than assistance. This allows for the DPDs’ efforts unnecessarily duplicating efforts and and interventions to reach many more resources. This complementarity is one of people. To reinforce the community-based the DPDs’ greatest strengths, as explained approach of the DPDs and promote local by Musa Sesay, District Coordinator for the ownership of initiatives yet still be able to Office of National Security: cover multiple communities effectively, the DPDs utilise a focal point system linking “The DPD takes over and does what them to these more remote border we [district state authorities] are not communities. able to or find very challenging. They Each community the DPD works in can go places, talk to people and do designates a community member to serve as things we are unable to do. If they a focal point who will maintain regular weren’t doing it, no one would be.” communication with the DPD, alert them to any emerging conflicts and provide updates Being rooted within their communities, one to the community of the DPD’s work. Focal of the DPDs main ways of adding value is by points do not always have to be formal

Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region 7

Dialogue in Bossou Case study

Nyanda Bamba visits the remnants of the Ebola Treatment Centre that he and Bossou’s other youths burnt down © Conciliation Resources

In Bossou, a small town located in a remote community and government authorities. The corner of Forest Guinea, the residents had DPD engaged all sides individually and heard of the deadly Ebola virus, but knew little encouraged them to reflect on their concerns about it. before bringing everyone together to collectively share their grievances and explore But when a number of people in a common solutions. A mutual understanding of neighbouring village died of the disease, fear one another began to develop and the mistrust and rumours quickly spread. Like many and suspicion that had pervaded relationships communities throughout Guinea, Liberia and between the community and local authorities Sierra Leone, the residents of Bossou were slowly subsided. highly suspicious of the government’s role with few trusting the sincerity of the The easing of tensions between the community government’s warnings or response to the and local authorities also meant that a crisis. humanitarian response could be safely implemented in Bossou. Nyanda Bamba a So when it was announced that an Ebola youth leader involved in the attack on the Treatment Centre was going to be built on the Ebola Treatment Centre, said: outskirts of the town, there was uproar and fear in the community and tensions rapidly “From that day [the day we spoke to escalated with the local authorities. the DPD], when we saw Ebola vehicles The town’s Mayor and other local government coming through here, we did not touch officials were accused of purposefully bringing them.” Ebola to the community and, in an effort to have them replaced, a group of female Elders Mayor Cyrille Lizo Doré, who is now once again attacked his office. Meanwhile Bossou’s welcomed by the community, credits the DPD youths attacked and burnt down the Ebola with reconciling and bringing peace to Bossou. Treatment Centre on the day that it opened. He praises them for enhancing trust and Tensions were even further exacerbated when confidence within the community and says: the military were sent in to detain the youth “We are very satisfied with the DPD’s and bring the unrest under control. work, very satisfied. Thanks to this With tensions rapidly escalating, key platform, where the people of Bossou community members turned to the local were not talking to each other, today Nzérékoré DPD for help. They quickly responded, and their first priority was to we talk… There is real harmony in the address the rumours about the Ebola virus community today thanks to this and how it was spread. platform.”

Using this as the entry point for discussions, Watch the Dialogue for Peace: reconciling communities the DPD dedicated itself to improving the post-Ebola short film to learn more about the DPD’s work in Bossou. relationship and trust between the

8 Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region

using their trust amongst the community to against. The DPDs worked in affected serve as an intermediary and link between communities to sensitise the population and the community and other actors who are create the requisite space for officials to go perhaps less trusted. Therefore, whilst the and implement their work. This has DPD may lack the knowledge or capacity to continued in the wake of the Ebola crisis as deal with a particular issue, they play a key the legacies of mistrust continue, for role in opening up communication channels example the Tewor District DPD in Liberia and creating safe spaces for better placed negotiated access for UNICEF officials to actors to implement their work. In turn other implement a Polio vaccination programme. actors recognise and understand the role of the DPD and regularly refer cases to them. Recommendation: Community peace platforms must understand and respect the In this manner, the DPD has played a key roles of other initiatives in the community. role in reinforcing the social contract Community peace platforms should seek between governments and their citizens by collaboration with other actors, recognise enabling state service delivery. A Koinadugu the respective strengths and weaknesses District Councillor, Hajia Bintu Mansaray, and identify who is best placed to do what. summarised this by stating that: 4. Transparency and regular “As representatives of the communication enhances trust government, it can be difficult to talk between actors to the community. They think you are just doing politics. They listen more It is only by having constructive and cordial when they hear it from the DPD who relations based on mutual respect and trust that there can be effective collaboration and are not seen as politicians and can complementarity in actions. To mitigate any act as middlemen...They help us fulfil notions of competition or rivalry between our duties by providing us and the actors it is critical that they are transparent community with opportunities to and regularly communicate with one interact, raise issues and share another. Therefore, to enhance this trust and stories without aggression.” understanding of one another it is crucial that the DPDs, local authorities and other During the Ebola crisis, historic weak community-based actors engage with one governance and a lack of trust between the another proactively, persistently and in a population and the region’s governments non-adversarial manner. meant many were sceptical of the Ebola The importance of this has been reinforced virus and questioned the motives for the to Conciliation Resources, our partners and subsequent responses to the crisis. The the DPDs on a number of occasions over the rampant rumours and misinformation at the past six years. For example, as touched upon time led to significant tensions between above, the DPDs are aware and committed to communities and those charged with strengthening the social contract between enacting national and international governments and their citizens by providing responses to the crisis. This lack of trust an enabling environment for the hampered the emergency response as implementation of state service delivery. international humanitarian organisations and However, if insufficiently explained these health, security and government officials actions can be seen as challenging the faced difficulty in accessing communities and authority of local government. In Kolahun, carrying out their duties. The imposition of Liberia, the District Commissioner’s office quarantines, introduction of controlled initially perceived the DPD as trying to burials, the closure of markets and undermine them and accused them of having restrictions on movement were just some of a future political agenda. This the responses that the communities rebelled

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DPDs have established cordial and trusted relationships with local security and government officials by regularly sharing information. Here, a security official engages with the Toe Town DPD and the wider community ©Conciliation Resources misunderstanding arose because the DPD other networks and community structures. members had not communicated their For example, many of the DPD members are intentions, purpose and activities to the local part of local District Watch Teams, District authorities from the outset effectively Security Meetings or the Mano River Union’s enough. Instead, the Commissioner’s Office Joint Border Security and Confidence was hearing indirectly about the DPDs work Building Units. This proactive, regular and and interventions from third parties. A series sincere information sharing has been critical of engagements clarified the situation and in creating durable relations between the repaired the DPD’s relationship with the DPDs and other actors in the border regions, Commissioner’s Office and the DPD now including local authorities. This mutual trust works in harmony with them and other local provides the foundation for all subsequent authorities. collaboration between actors.

Instances such as this have been relayed to Recommendation: Community peace other DPDs to reinforce the importance of platforms must liaise with all other actors in transparency and regular information the community from the outset and continue sharing between themselves and other to share information regularly and actors. As part of this, every DPD is proactively throughout the course of their encouraged to: work. If possible, this should be Inform actors of all planned activities systematised through the establishment of whether it is an issue that directly official meetings. concerns them or not; Provide a post activity summary of all 5. Resolving conflicts is a activities, covering discussion points and continuous process agreed follow-up actions; The DPDs’ work is most effective when Set up monthly or weekly briefings with attention is given to the whole process of relevant actors, including local addressing tensions rather than on the authorities, highlighting any changes and implementation of discrete events or developments in the community. activities. While mediation and dialogue To further systematise this sharing of sessions are critical in finding a durable information and transparency between solution to local conflicts, they are just part different community actors, DPD members of a much wider and often less visible have been invited to participate and join process that includes continuous

10 Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region

engagement; identification and analysis of DPDs continue to engage the concerned issues; awareness raising; research; and parties and monitor the implementation relationship building so that different of the mutually agreed solutions to stakeholders are happy to even participate in ensure accountability, and reconciliation. subsequent dialogues. A durable solution to conflicts can only be achieved when attention Recommendation: Encouraging and support is provided at all stages of this community peace platforms to understand process conflict resolution as a continuous process rather than one-off activities and events Elements of the effective process include: increases the prospects for reconciliation at Creating a safe space to listen to the local level. communities’ issues and concerns. Mapping issues through community 6. Flexibility and adaptability forums and events and identifying areas improves effectiveness where the DPD can make a difference. Across the four countries, there is a huge Identifying information gaps and diversity in local capacities, levels of sensitising communities to address those infrastructure, cultural practices, the type of gaps. tensions being faced and the presence of Developing trust and learning more pre-existing dialogue mechanisms. All of about where tensions lie through these these factors and more influence how the sensitisations and discussions. DPDs can work most effectively and, as such, Identifying key stakeholders and it is critical that the DPDs do not proscribe to preparing them for discussions with a pre-defined rigid model and are instead other parties / communities. able to adapt to the most appropriate Facilitating a series of inclusive dialogues approach for their particular context and with the concerned parties to jointly needs. identify solutions to the different tensions and grievances ensuring they are locally Due to the nature of the decentralised and collaboratively developed. governance practice in Sierra Leone, DPDs in Sierra Leone tend to be based in their respective district capitals so that they benefit from easier physical access to local authorities. Their presence in the district capitals also means that they have longer standing relationships with the local authorities. This has proved effective in enabling local authorities to participate effectively in listening more to community grievances and responding proactively. However, in contrast, government is less decentralised in Liberia than in Sierra Leone and, as such, it offers little benefit for the DPDs to be based in district capitals. Instead, DPDs in Liberia are based in the ‘hotspot’ communities that are most prone to tensions and conflict. This means that the DPDs in Liberia are more rooted in the communities that they work and, as such, are able to respond even more promptly to emerging tensions. Diagram showing that dialogue is just one stage of the conflict resolution process ©Conciliation Resources

Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region 11

This comparative example highlights how the A gender balance in the DPD has also served flexibility of the DPD model and other similar to provide alternative outreach methods community peace platforms allows for the within the community. Given the patriarchal most appropriate and effective approach for nature of society in the Mano River Region, each particular context. Having said that, women do not always feel comfortable community peace platforms should attending or actively participating in constantly be looking to improve and community events. It is clear that women acknowledge that each different operating DPD members are able to reach sectors of model has specific strengths and society, who would otherwise not engage weaknesses. Shared exchanges between with the DPD. For example, in Forécariah, these platforms offers an invaluable space to Guinea a group of women ran away during learn from one another and see how these the Ebola crisis to hide from the health alternative strategies could supplement their authorities and international NGOs through work. fear that they may be suspected of being infected and thus taken away. The only way it Recommendation: Avoid proscribing to was possible for the DPD to locate and talk a rigid model across highly diverse contexts. to this group of women was by the women Models and mechanisms must be flexible DPD members taking the lead. After gaining and adaptable to ensure that the most their trust and building their confidence, the appropriate response model is used for each women began attending DPD dialogue context. sessions and eventually returned to the community. 7. Gender balance enhances gender sensitive responses Active women’s participation in the DPD has clearly raised women’s engagement in the The DPDs strive for a gender balance work of the DPDs and allows for the raising amongst its members and the various of gender issues as information is shared leadership positions. As part of this, each from, with and through different channels. It DPD has guaranteed that both sexes is therefore imperative to have a gender comprise a minimum of 30 per cent of its balance not just amongst the membership as membership. Given the deeply patriarchal a whole but also amongst the roles and society in the region, this has served to duties assigned. enhance women’s active participation in the DPD and their empowerment to be effective Recommendation: Community peace agents for change in their communities. One platforms benefit from setting minimum of the most significant benefits of this gender quotas for both sexes regarding membership balance within the DPD has been the ability and participation in activities. Both men and with which the DPD has been able to reach women should be encouraged to raise their and impact the lives of women in the voice and listen to each other so that all community. voices are heard. A gender balance amongst the DPD ensures 8. Long-term sustainability that it is representative of the whole population and therefore reinforces their One of the greatest challenges to the long- legitimacy. The messages that the DPD are term sustainability of the DPD model and spreading are therefore able to reach a many other community-based interventions wider section of the population. On countless is retaining the internal capacity, knowledge occasions, women community members and motivation necessary for them to work have stated that they listen and adhere to the effectively. advice of the DPD because there are women Levels of commitment and involvement are in the group who corroborate the messages. variable, with all DPDs having some members who are less motivated and the

12 Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region

burden of work falling on a number of more model also ensures that the social capital committed individuals in the network. We and knowledge of the DPDs is diversified and have repeatedly seen that over time DPD spread throughout the platform rather than membership falls as the less committed concentrated in a few individuals. This members drop out. For example, many of the mitigates the risk to the DPDs long-term DPDs are initially formed with 30-40 viability caused by individual members members, however over the next one or two becoming less active over time, whether it is years the membership tends to fall to a core through a fall in motivation or commitments of between 12 and 24 people. So long as the to other initiatives. This ensures that any one number of members stabilises, this process person’s lack of availability or departure of members dropping out should not from the DPD does not overly limit the necessarily be alarming as all the DPDs capacity of the DPD to work because at least report that their effectiveness is higher one other member will possess the same having fewer more committed members than knowledge and skills. it was when they first began. Having said By doing this, the capacity, knowledge and that, the voluntary nature of the DPD poses a desire to be positive agents of change has threat in the long-term for a further decline endured beyond the lifespan of previous in the number of members as it raises the projects and this will hopefully continue in risk that income-generating activities may the future. This was evident no more so than need to take priority. at the outbreak of the Ebola crisis when they In addition, whilst the commitment of the undertook hugely inspiring and unfunded remaining members to being actors for work to address misinformation and tensions change in their communities is an undoubted arising out of the epidemic using the strength of the model, it can also act as a foundations and skills they had developed weakness. Most DPD members are already with Conciliation Resources and partners a activists and civil society actors who are few years previously. It was their extremely active in their organisations and commitment and work to respond to the communities. The DPD structure relies on needs of their local communities that directly well-connected, informed and trusted led to the design and implementation of the community members but these individuals EU-funded project that has looked to are, by their very nature, extremely busy with mitigate the escalation of societal tensions a number of commitments. Therefore, there during and after the epidemic. Therefore, is a risk that some DPD members are over- whilst it should be anticipated that the scope engaged with other commitments and of the DPD interventions will decline in the severely limited in the time they can give to absence of resources, the DPDs will remain the DPD. ready to mobilise and have the necessary capacity to intervene whenever their To prevent further decline in the number of community most needs them. DPD members and to allow already busy DPD members to easily engage with the Recommendation: There must be DPD’s work, it is critical that any recognition that without funding, there will unnecessary burdens and potential be a decline in membership and activity disincentives that hinder the efficiency of the levels. However, community peace platforms DPD are removed. This requires planning for must be empowered to maintain their the sustainability of the model from the presence and respond at times of need outset and providing them with the regardless of funding. This can be achieved necessary knowledge and physical resources through the incorporation of long-term to undertake their work efficiently in the sustainability plans into initial project design. long-term. The DPDs have also been encouraged to use the focal point system to further decentralise themselves and thus reduce travel times and costs. The DPD

Dialogue for peace: Reflections and lessons from community peace platforms in the Mano River region 13

Summary

For decades the border districts of the Mano River region countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – have been prone to instability and insecurity. Conciliation Resources and our national NGO partners have looked to help alleviate tensions in the these areas by building the capacity of local people so that they are empowered and have the necessary skills to be positive agents for change in their community.

We support a network of 18 community-based peacebuilding structures, called District Platforms for Dialogue (DPDs). These are comprised of trusted community members who are trained to identify areas of conflict, facilitate dialogue and advocate duty bearers for change. Over the past six years, our experiences have highlighted eight key lessons for improving the effectiveness of community platforms:

1. Community trust and confidence is continuous process rather than a series of key: At the heart of the success of the DPD one-off activities. model is that it is owned by and 6. Flexibility and adaptability: Across the representative of the communities that it Mano River region, communities have vastly serves, enabling timely well-targeted and different capacities and needs. To enhance relevant interventions. effectiveness, it is critical that community 2. Widening the reach: Decentralising the platforms are not forced to work to a pre- structure of community platforms enables defined model but are able to adapt their them to reach more remote communities, approach for their particular context. furthers local ownership and enables quicker 7. A gender balance: The DPDs strive for a responses to conflict. gender balance amongst their members and 3. Recognise and collaborate with other leadership positions. Men and women are actors: Community-based peacebuilding empowered to raise their voice and listen to initiatives need to consider the roles, skills each other so that all voices are heard. This and values of other initiatives in the gender balance enables alternative channels community and recognise where they can add of outreach and sets the foundations for value. gender issues to be raised. 4. Transparency and communication 8. Long-term sustainability: Long-term between community actors: Central to sustainability has to be a key factor in the effective collaboration between actors is initial design of community-based developing a relationship based on mutual programmes. Community peace platforms respect and trust. Vital to achieving this is the must be empowered to maintain their proactive, regular and sincere sharing of presence and respond at times of need information and complete transparency. regardless of funding, which can in part be 5. Conflict resolution is a continuous achieved by removing any barriers to their process: The work of community platforms work and diversifying the skills and is most effective when they view and knowledge throughout the platform. understand conflict resolution as a

Conciliation Resources is an independent Conciliation Resources international organisation working with people Burghley Yard 106 Burghley Road in conflict to prevent violence, resolve conflicts London NW5 1AL and promote peaceful societies. We believe UK that building sustainable peace takes time. We +44 (0)20 7359 7728 provide practical support to help people +44 (0)20 7359 4081 affected by violent conflict achieve lasting [email protected] peace. We draw on our shared experiences to www.c-r.org improve peacebuilding policies and practice worldwide.

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