Peaceful Change initiative | 25B Lloyd Baker Street, London, WC1X 9AT

We work with communities to prevent or reduce violence that has been triggered by radical and divisive change. We aim to mitigate the effects of violence on people’s lives, while laying the foundations for long-term peace and stability.

News

Youth Participation in Decision Making and Peacebuilding in Armenia

Over the last twelve months, PCi worked with Armenian NGO, YCCD to promote youth participation in decision-making and peacebuilding in Armenia, supporting UN Security Resolution 2250 calling on governments to include youth participation in local, national and international institutions, in efforts to end conflict. A short film was produced to capture the project’s impact (available in Armenian with English subtitles). The project was funded by the UK Government’s Conflict, Security and Stability Fund.

Armenia: Promoting Youth Engagement in Governance and Peace

Peaceful Change initiative and the Armenian NGO Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan (YCCD) hosted an event in Yerevan on 28 February 2020, to present the results of the project “Progressing Youth Participation in Armenia on Governance and Peace”. Participants included civil society organisations focused on youth, peacebuilding and education; as well as officials representing the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.
PCi’s Programme Adviser Artak Ayunts outlined the project achievements including the production of a Training Manual which supports United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on “Youth, Peace and Security” and promotes action plans for youth engagement in governance in Armenia. He also highlighted the importance of peace education in Armenia. YCCD’s Director Artur Ghazaryan noted that the youth workshops conducted in the north-eastern region of Tavush had helped to raise awareness of UNSCR 2250 as well.
The project is funded by the UK Government’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Armenia: Training Manual to Promote Action Plans for Youth Engagement in Governance

PCi has produced a Training Manual for the project “Progressing Youth Participation in Armenia on Governance and Peace”, which supports United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on “Youth, Peace and Security”. The Manual has four modules which support users to:

Increase understanding of peace and peacebuilding together with the basics of conflict transformation
Develop communication skills in support of non-violent dialogue
Communicate approaches and tools related to decision-making in line with UNSCR 2250 leading to the development of action plans for youth engagement in governance.

Content was developed using the following sources: “Transformational Leadership in Conflict Management in Libya” by Peaceful Change initiative (UK); “Do No Harm and Conflict Transformation” by Mirovna Academia (Bosnia and Hercegovina); “Basics of Mediation Skills” by the Institute for Peace and Common Ground (Ukraine). The project is funded by the UK Government’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.
The Manual can be downloaded in Armenian here.

PCi supports Belong Network’s Shared Ground Pilot Programme

PCi’s senior Peacebuilding Advisor Raj Bhari has been invited by BELONG, the cohesion and integration network, to support Shared Ground, a new Pilot Programme for the UK. The programme will build the capacity, skills and confidence for practitioners, and all those who work closely alongside residents and in neighbourhoods, to work more effectively in situations where there is conflict and tension. The course will be designed with input from The Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Peace Foundation and the Peaceful Change Initiative. Both organisations bring substantial expertise in working in situations where there are community tensions and conflict.
The course will include the following elements:

Conflict analysis tools; frameworks for understanding cohesion and integration, working constructively with change and conflict;
Practical, skills focused elements which support participants to develop their skills (including communication and dialogue skills) using examples drawn from recent situations;
Action steps so that participants can apply their learning and receive peer feedback and support;
The opportunity to join a community of practice convened by Belong

The course will be delivered by:

Raj Bhari from Peaceful Change Initiative
Christine Cox, Belong Lead Facilitator and Network Convener
Mike Waite from Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Peace Foundation

PCi hosts Panel Discussion on Conflict Sensitivity – Successes, Challenges and Priorities

PCi hosted a panel discussion on behalf of the Conflict Sensitivity Hub at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in London on 13 December 2019. Tim Molesworth, Senior Adviser, Conflict Sensitivity and Peace Technology at PCi facilitated the discussions, livestreamed on Twitter enabling conflict sensitivity practitioners to engage in the conversation, from around the world. Click here to view a recording of the panel discussion.
Through its work on conflict sensitivity, PCi seeks to contribute to developing the concept of conflict sensitivity; advocate for incorporating conflict sensitivity into policy and processes and support the conflict sensitivity of international assistance activities in contexts where they are delivered. Speakers included Rachel Goldwyn, Senior Conflict Sensitivity and Peacebuilding Advisor at World Food Programme, Elias Sadkni, Director at House of Peace Foundation, Albert Souza Mulli, Conflict and Stabilisation Adviser for the British Embassy to Libya, Heloise Heyer, Conflict Sensitivity Lead at PeaceNexus, Pilar Domingo, Senior Research Fellow at Overseas Development Institute. @CSC_hub

The team at CAF Venturesome are raising money for PCi for Giving Tuesday in the UK

Peaceful Change Initiative was selected by the CAF Venturesome team, the social investment team at Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), as their beneficiary this Giving Tuesday in the UK as part of a global day of giving to charities and social organisations. All CAF staff are encouraged to volunteer and fundraise on this day, which this year is Tuesday 3 December. One of the team is running 50km from CAF’s Kent office to their London office to raise funds from their network for PCi.

PCi is grateful for the support and wish them the best of luck on Tuesday 3 December. #CAFVenturesome

Click here to support their efforts and donate to PCi through CAF’s donate page

Improving Youth Participation in Armenia – PCi Accompanies Armenian Delegation to Scotland

The delegates from Armenia at Young Scot offices

PCi accompanied a delegation from Armenia, including leaders of youth organisations, government representatives and members of the Armenian National Assembly, to travel to Scotland between 18-22 November 2019. The delegation met with Scottish youth leaders, government officials, business leaders and academics, gaining insight into how they might strengthen the ability of young people to participate in decision making at different levels on their return to Armenia. Highlights included meetings with Members of the Scottish Parliament (Edinburgh), the Scottish Youth Parliament (Dundee) and youth working alongside police officers at the “Community Safety Hub” (Dundee). Artur Ghazaryan from the Youth Cooperation Centre of Dilijan, and PCi’s Armenian project partner, said: “This has been a great experience …. young people (in Scotland) are involved in different channels, such as the Youth Parliament, the local council and other informal initiatives and are educated to be civic-minded so they can contribute to political and economic affairs and other areas of life. This is a great example and when we return to Armenia we can seek to try and adopt and improve youth representation in different sectors of life as well.” #UKCSSF

PCi and YCCD Host Roundtable Event on Youth Policy in Armenia

Peaceful Change initiative and the Youth Cooperation Center of Dilijan (YCCD) hosted a Roundtable event on Youth Policy issues in Armenia on October 30 2019, in Yerevan; under the framework of the project on “Progressing Youth Participation in Armenia on Governance and Peace”. Participants included officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MESCS) responsible for the development of Youth Policy in Armenia, representatives from civil society and youth organizations, active youth workers and young men and women interested in the issue. The discussions were focused on topics which produced suggested recommendations/ messages. PCi and YCCD will work with civil society and government to raise awareness of the recommendations/ messages, to promote inclusive and participatory processes in the development of Youth Policy in Armenia.

PCi takes over coordination of Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub

Peaceful Change initiative is the newly appointed Secretariat of the Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub (CSC-Hub). The CSC-Hub is a global network of organizations and individuals working on conflict sensitive approaches in their fields to promote conflict sensitivity at the policy, organizational and programmatic level.
As the Hub coordinator for the 2019/20 period, PCi facilitates the collaboration, knowledge exchange and implementation of activities among member organisations.
The Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub is now on twitter – for the latest news on Conflict Sensitivity related content, follow @CSC_Hub.

Global Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub Annual Meeting in Beirut, Lebanon

Tim Molesworth, PCi’s Senior Advisor for Conflict Sensitivity and Peace Technology, participated in the annual meeting of the global Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub in Beirut, Lebanon, between 17-19 July 2019. The Hub brings together international and local organisations to promote and develop the concept and practice of conflict sensitivity.
The 2019 Hub meeting provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge, experience and tools relating to conflict sensitivity between participating organisations. Tim presented PCi’s experience facilitating the Libya Conflict Sensitive Assistance Forum since 2013, sharing some of its lessons learned and discussing how the experience could be relevant in other contexts. The meeting also provided an opportunity for the Hub to connect with the recently established Local Conflict Sensitivity Forum in Beirut facilitated by House of Peace and share perspectives.

PCi Supports the Syria Peace Process Support Initiative (SPPSI) in Beirut, Lebanon

PCi’s Senior Peacebuilding Adviser Raj Bhari, with a colleague from International Alert, facilitated a Working Group on Peacebuilding at the Syria Peace Process Support Partner Event on June 20 2019 in Beirut, Lebanon. The European Union and Germany set up the Syria Peace Process Support Initiative to contribute to peacebuilding in Syria, based on the implementation of UNSCR 2254. The workshop session facilitated forward-thinking discussions on what the Track 3 peacebuilding agenda in Syria needs to encompass and the possibilities and entry points for Track 3 peacebuilding in the current Syrian context.

Project Update: “Embedding Social Peace and Conflict Transformation” in Libya

Tiji Social Peace Partnership Team Building Workshop December 2018

The evaluation of PCi’s project “Embedding social peace and conflict transformation” jointly funded by the Governments of the UK and Switzerland and the European Union, assesses the project’s performance and effectiveness. The evaluation was conducted between February and April 2019 and is based on literature review, as well as qualitative interviews and focus groups conducted with 114 direct and indirect beneficiaries across six targeted locations in Libya where the project has been implemented. The evaluation highlighted: “In terms of impact, the project contributed to reducing violence between communities and established an infrastructure for a political settlement to take over, by supporting the creation of partnerships and building capacity throughout Libya to engage in transformational approaches to conflict management. It also helped to build trust between the local government and local communities.” To read the evaluation, please click here.

Call for Participants: Training of Trainers on Youth Peace and Security in Armenia
11-16 August 2019

PCi and its partner the Youth Cooperation Centre of Dilijan (YCCD) are holding a one-week Training of Trainers for Armenian youth workers and civil society activists to work on youth, peace and security issues within the context of UN Security Council Resolution 2250. The training will be held in Dilijan, Armenia between 11 – 16 August 2019. Successful graduates of the training will be engaged to carry out trainings within the framework of the PCi-led project “Progressing Youth Participation in Armenia on Governance and Peace”, funded by the UK Government. Interested parties should apply using the following link in English or in Armenian.

Project Update: Progressing Youth Participation in Armenia on Governance and Peace

In April 2019, PCi commenced work on a 12-month project funded by the UK Government and within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2250, related to youth, peace and security. The first component involves research into youth involvement in the violence-free revolution that led to a change in government in 2018. Workshops will then be convened for Armenian civil society organisations focusing on peacebuilding to discuss the research findings and develop recommendations; working collaboratively together to advocate for the recommendations. The project aims to have the recommendations included in the government’s official policies on youth. The second component will develop educational materials to build young people’s awareness of peace and security issues in Armenia and increase knowledge of peacebuilding activities. Materials will be piloted among youth directly affected by conflict in the province of Tavush in the north east of Armenia.

Libyan Peacebuilders Network Hosts “Peacemakers Awards” in Benghazi, Libya

Photograph of participants at the Peacebuilders Awards

PCi’s partner, the Libyan Peacebuilders Network, organised and hosted the “Peacemakers Awards” in Benghazi on 8 February 2019. The event was planned to bring attention to the work being done by Libyans throughout the country to manage conflict in their communities and promote peace for Libya. The event recognised the work of a number of groups and individuals including the elders from the Tebu and Zawiya tribes in Kufra, elders of the western Mountain tribes, the Social Council of the Werfalla tribe and the elders of Cyrenaica. A special award was presented to Aisha Aizadma from Harawa for her role in addressing the conflict between the Al-Gedaddfa and Awlad Sulaiman tribes in Sebha.

PCi Supports Training for Armenian Youth in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding

A namebadge and certificate from the event

PCi’s Programme Advisor, Artak Ayunts, conducted training (February 3 2019), for young bloggers and vloggers from Armenia on Conflict Transformation and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the Alternotion project which aims to create an online platform of cross-border storytelling on cultural similarities of Armenian and Azerbaijanis. The training was part of an EU-funded PeaCE project (Peacebuilding through Capacity Enhancement and Civic Engagement) implemented by Eurasia Partnership Foundation aiming to encourage young Armenians and Azerbaijanis from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh to develop a shared vision for peace in the region through learning the conflict transformation and peacebuilding methodologies.

Project Update: PCi Invited To Speak At A Kyiv Roundtable Event In Ukraine

PCi participated and spoke at a Kyiv Roundtable event co-organised with the parliamentary Human Rights committee and hosted at the Ombudsman’s Office, Tuesday 23 October 2018

PCi participated and spoke at a Kyiv Roundtable event co-organised with the parliamentary Human Rights committee and hosted at the Ombudsman’s office on Tuesday 23 October 2018. The Roundtable focused on the conflict in eastern Ukraine and sought to promote ways to engage across divided communities and promote dialogue in the interests of achieving practical changes for vulnerable people in conflict-affected areas. As part of the Panel input, participants also shared experience from PCi practice on institutionalising dialogue at a local level in Ukraine. The Panel of speakers comprising the PCi session of the Roundtable included: Jonathan Cohen, Executive Director of Conciliation Resources; Natalia Mirimanova, a conflict resolution practitioner; Craig Oliphant, a Senior Adviser at Peaceful Change initiative and Anthony Foreman, a Senior Adviser with Peaceful Change initiative.

Project Update: PCi Provides Support To Research Report On Dialogue In Ukraine

Dr Tatiana Kyselova who presented the Research Report “Understanding Dialogue in Ukraine: A survey based study – Analytical Report 2018” in Kyiv, with support from PCI, on October 24 2018

PCi has supported the publication of the Research Report “Understanding Dialogue in Ukraine: A survey-based study, Analytical Report 2018”, which was launched on Wednesday 24 October 2018 at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Museum. The research was conducted by the Mediation and Dialogue Research Centre, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and presented at the launch by Dr Tatiana Kyselova. The goal of the study was to obtain quantitative data in order to test hypotheses developed during an earlier study about patterns and risks relating to track-three dialogues in Ukraine. Click here for the Research Report (full) in English or Ukrainian and the Research Report (Summary) in English or Ukrainian.

Project Update: PCi CEO Addresses ECFR Meeting On Libya Stabilization

PCi’s CEO Fleur Auzimour Just addressed the meeting hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) on 5 September 2018 in Berlin, which examined how Germany and European partners could more effectively strengthen stabilization efforts, that advance a meaningful political process in Libya. The meeting: “Order from Chaos: Stabilising Libya the Local Way” bought together a range of Libyan and European interlocutors that included Abdelbari Shinbaro, the Deputy Minister for Local Governance of the Libyan Government of National Accord; Dr Christian Buck, Ambassador and Regional Director for the Near and Middle East and North Africa German Foreign Office; Suliman Ali Zway a Libyan researcher/journalist and Tarek Megerisi, Policy Fellow at ECFR.

Project Update: Young Armenian and Georgian Leaders Benefit from Training

PCi Programme Advisor,
Artak Ayunts

Between 11 and 15 July 2018 PCi’s Programme Advisor, Artak Ayunts, conducted a training for young leaders from across the South Caucasus in the Georgian city of Kobuleti on the subject of “Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding”. The training was part of a larger project “Youth for Peace in the South Caucasus”, which aims to build trust among young activists from different parts of the region, who will work at peace camps in Armenia and Georgia for teenagers with mixed nationalities. The training was organized with the support of the international non-governmental organisation HEKS-EPER and several NGOs from across the South Caucasus region: Syunik Development NGO, Regional Network of Peace and Reintegration, Lazarus Charity Foundation of the Patriarchate of Georgia, and The Union of Azerbaijani Women of Georgia.

Project Update: Ukraine Conference Tackles Conflict Drivers With PCi Support

Ukraine Conference to build local capacity that tackles underlying drivers of conflict

Between March 12-14, 2018, PCi, together with its partner Institute for Peace and Common Ground (Ukraine), held a conference to present and reflect on the challenges and achievements of supporting Dialogue Initiative Groups in four communities in Donetsk Oblast. The conference, attended by national parliamentary deputies and mayors of communities across Ukraine, took place under the UK Government’s Conflict Security and Stability Fund and looked to engage policy makers in discussions on steps that could be taken at an institutional level to build local capacity that tackles underlying drivers of conflict.

Project Update: Training Ukrainian NGOs in Peacebuilding / Conflict Sensitivity

Photo Credit: Ukraine NGO Forum

PCi Senior Advisors Raj Bhari and Anthony Foreman were invited by the Ukraine NGO Forum to give a training of trainers on ‘Essentials of peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity’ to 20 Ukrainian NGO representatives. Participants in the 4-day training will look to apply conflict-sensitivity to their own day-to-day work and conduct trainings in their own communities on how to deal with underlying causes of conflict. This activity was part of Building for the Future, a project supported by the UK’s Conflict Stability and Security Fund.

Webinar: UNDP | Youth and The Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE)

PCi’s Project Coordinator for the Libya Stabilisation Facility Project, contributed to a UNDP webinar focusing on Youth & the Prevention of Violent Extremism. He talked about the current Libyan context and the challenges it presents to countering violent extremism, exploring some possible approaches to transforming the role of youth from victims or targets into agents of change. His contribution can be found from minute 58.00 at this video link.

Event: Peacebuilding and the Role of the Civil Society in Syria and Libya

PCi’s Senior Advisor, Raj Bhari, participated in an event organised by the British Council in London to discuss the role of civil society in peacebuilding in Syria and Libya. The event was attended by academics, practitioners, government representatives, artists and activists. Other panellists included Yosra Nagui from Swisspeace, Geoffrey Howard from FCO, and Anas Darkawi from the Asfari Foundation. The discussion focused on findings and lessons learned in relation to inclusion, identity, and engaging youth in peacebuilding.

Webinar: Conflict Sensitivity in Remote Programming

In this webinar, PCi’s Senior Advisors, Lesley McCulloch and Anthony Foreman, shared key findings of a new PCi report on the challenges, opportunities and lessons learned of mainstreaming conflict sensitivity in remote programming contexts. They discussed the evolution of the remote programming model employed in Syria and Libya, where PCi works to support and build the capacity of local leaders to manage conflict.

Project Update: Increasing Women and Youth’s Participation in Peacebuilding

A series of targeted trainings have sought to increase the participation of women and youth in the peacebuilding activities that PCi conducts in 14 areas across Libya. As a result, an additional 40 women joined the local Partnerships and 14 peace actions designed and led by youth were delivered. The actions ranged from countering divisive narratives and building trust between different groups to providing job opportunities for ex-combatants.

Project Update: Transforming the Ways Communities Manage Conflict in Syria

Our Syrian Peace Resources Network has been working to bring together local community leaders in order to empower them to play a more active role in resolving conflicts. The result has been the establishment of community committees that promote dialogue as a method to resolve local problems. The committees support the peaceful management of conflicts by mediating peaceful solutions to disputes, increasing human security through service delivery, and stopping the spread of violence. Read more

Project Update: Social Peace Partnerships Active in 14 Areas Across Libya

PCi supports SPLD Partnerships in 14 municipalities across Libya. The Partnerships bring together representatives of different community groups, and are aimed to build trust and strengthen relationships between the community and the local authorities, as well as between different community groups. PCi provides ongoing support to the Partnerships through a pool of Libyan Trainer Mentors, strengthening skills in areas such as mediation, negotiation, gender inclusion, and peacebuilding programme design and delivery.

Project Update: Online Platform for Conflict Sensitive Assistance in Libya

PCi, in partnership with humanidev.tech, has launched OPSECA, a new online analysis and planning tool to help practitioners more easily manage the humanitarian and development planning cycle. Within the context of the Conflict Sensitivity Assistance in Libya Forum, OPSECA will provide the Forum participants access to ongoing conflict analysis, to help the international community better plan support to Libya in a conflict-sensitive manner.

Resources

Conflict Sensitivity Considerations Relating to COVID-19 Response in Libya

PCi has produced a brief note on potential conflict sensitivity considerations relating to the COVID-19 response in Libya, developed as part of the Conflict Sensitive Assistance (CSA) in Libya forum. The note is intended as a resource to aid assistance planners and project staff to take conflict sensitivity implications into account when preparing to respond to COVID-19. PCi will seek to incorporate additional conflict sensitivity considerations as they evolve and will review periodically as appropriate. Download the report.

Conflict Sensitivity Considerations Relating to Local Governance Assistance in Libya

On 6 September 2019, PCi delivered a Presentation on “Conflict Sensitivity Considerations, Relating to Local Governance Assistance in Libya”, at the EU Implementer’s forum (Libya) in Tunis, minimising the ways such assistance could contribute to conflict while maximising opportunities to contribute to peace. The considerations represent issues faced practically by implementers and were identified through consultations and PCi’s broader peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity work in Libya. A brief report was produced and is intended to inform practical policy, programme design and implementation. Download the report in English here.

Research Report: Understanding Dialogue in Ukraine

A survey of participants in track-three dialogues was conducted between March and April 2018 by the Mediation and Dialogue Research Center, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, with support from PCi. This was to test hypotheses developed during an earlier study about patterns and risks relating to track-three dialogues in Ukraine. “Understanding Dialogue in Ukraine: A survey-based study, Analytical Report 2018” can be downloaded here in English, Ukrainian and Russian.

Communication Pack to Promote SPLD Methodology Developed for Libya

A Communication Pack has been developed by PCi to support Trainer Mentors in Libya to design and implement actions aimed to promote PCi’s Social Peace and Local Development (SPLD) methodology in key locations across the country. For more information on the communication pack contact: general@peacefulchange.org Download the Communication Pack Flyer in English and Arabic here.

Libya Case Study: Ubari Social Peace Partnership

In 2015, PCi supported the establishment of a conflict sensitive mechanism known as the Social Peace Partnership in Ubari, following successful delivery of a Social Peace and Local Development Programme in 2014. 20 Social Peace Partnerships are now established across Libya. This Case Study outlines evidence of the active role that the Ubari Social Peace Partnership has played to reduce tensions and prevent outbreak of violent conflict.
Download the case study here

Report of the Conflict Sensitive Assistance for Syria Retreats

Key findings and recommendations from three retreats with Syrian NGOs, international implementers, and donors. Participants reviewed the conflict-sensitive approach to assistance delivered in Syria.
Download in English or Arabic

Report of the CSA Front Cover

2017 Progress Report

PCi’s first progress report presents impact stories from our work in Syria, Libya and Ukraine.
Find out more

Conflict-Sensitive Assistance for Libya Forum

The latest updates from the Conflict-Sensitive Assistance for Libya Forum are now available. The Forum regularly convenes representatives of international organisations to jointly review the context in which assistance to Libya is being delivered, with a view to maximising the impact of the international community’s interventions.
Find out more

Ukraine: A Peacebuilding Agenda to Bridge the Divide

Reflecting on the situation in the east of Ukraine, the paper proposes a peacebuilding agenda for local and international organisations.
Find out more

More Resources…

To find out more about our activities, please visit our Programmes page.

Syria Programme

Libya Programme