In this webinar, PCi’s Senior Advisers Lesley McCulloch and Anthony Foreman shared the key findings of a new PCi report on the challenges and opportunities of, and lessons learned from, 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.
Region: Global
United Kingdom: 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. Tim Molesworth, PCi’s Senior Adviser, Conflict Sensitivity and Peace Technology, PCi facilitated the discussions – which were also 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.
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 Adviser 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; and Pilar Domingo, Senior Research Fellow at Overseas Development Institute. @CSC_hub on Twitter
‘A Force for Good?’ Examining UK Engagement in Fragile and Conflict Affected Countries
The virtual event (6 December 2021) discussed the findings of the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) and the Peaceful Change Initiative (PCi) publication.
The event and publication seek to re-examine the UK’s presence in fragile and conflict affected countries (FCACs) around the world at a time of continuing global geopolitical competition and added fragilities generated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of climate change.
To download the publication, click on this link: ‘A Force For Good?’ Examining UK engagement in Fragile and Conflict Affected Countries
Panel:
- Rt Hon. Andrew Mitchell MP, former International Development Secretary
- Fleur Auzimour Just, CEO of Peaceful Change Initiative
- Dr Naho Mirumachi, Reader in Environmental Politics at Kings College London
- Tim Molesworth, Senior Adviser, Conflict Sensitivity and Peace Technology at Peaceful Change Initiative
ILO launches new guide to promote social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in fragile contexts
PCi’s trustee Joan McGregor and Senior Peacebuilding Advisor Raj Bhari have been working with ILO to produce a new guide: Promoting Social Cohesion and Peaceful Coexistence in Fragile Contexts through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The guide is now available to download here: Promoting Social Cohesion and Peaceful Coexistence in Fragile Contexts through TVET.
The guide is aimed at TVET practitioners to consolidate their role as active promoters of social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.
The guide seeks to strengthen the role of skills development policies and programmes in peacebuilding efforts through inclusive learning methodologies and training in relevant core skills.
It also provides practical guidance on how to adapt training, to mixed community groups, embed conflict resolution skills, cooperation, and other relevant core skills into training curricula, and create conflict sensitive, inclusive, and diverse learning environments for all.
The guide will be launched at a Webinar on International Day of Living Together in Peace on May 17 2021 at 2pm UK time. To participate in the Webinar, please click on the following link: https://ilo-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jr1K9WatS4yB2qDJRILlpg
Peaceful Change initiative – working to make the world a safer place
Peaceful Change initiative was highlighted in the Guardian newspaper over the weekend in a feature about interesting charities. We are exploring new ways of supporting the conflict resolution work we do in some of the world’s most challenging places. If you would like to get involved in supporting the work of Peaceful Change initiative, please visit https://peacefulchange.org/get-involved/
Building a Lasting Peace in Bosnia
Peaceful Change initiative’s Programme Lead on the Western Balkans Programme, Ian Bancroft, participated in the Foreign Policy Centre Webinar on “Building a lasting peace? Power sharing and sectarian identities in Bosnia” on 9 February 2021. The panel discussion was focused on the complex relationship between peace building, power sharing and sectarian identities in Bosnia; it also examined the real challenges of improving public trust and reforming institutions in ways that enhance and protect peacebuilding in Bosnia.
To listen, please click here
The panel
Dr Allison McCulloch, Associate Professor at Brandon University
Anne Kirstine Rønn, PhD student at Aarhus University and attached to SEPAD
Ian Bancroft, Writer, diplomat and Programme Manager at the Peaceful Change Initiative
Baroness Helic, Board Member of the International Criminal Court Trust Fund for Victims
Chair: Fleur Anderson MP, Vice Chair of APPG for Bosnia and Herzegovina
PCi CEO addresses ECFR meeting on Libya stabilisation
PCi’s CEO Fleur 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 stabilisation efforts that advance a meaningful political process in Libya. The meeting – ‘Order from Chaos: Stabilising Libya the Local Way’ – brought together a range of Libyan and European interlocutors who 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.
Lebanon: Global Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub annual meeting in Beirut
Tim Molesworth, PCi’s Senior Adviser, Conflict Sensitivity and Peace Technology, participated in the annual meeting of the global Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub in Beirut, Lebanon, from 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 the 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 to share perspectives.
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 organisations and individuals working on conflict-sensitive approaches in their fields to promote conflict sensitivity at the policy, organisational 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.
Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub advocating for conflict-sensitive aid in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Under the coordination of Peaceful Change initiative, the Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub has addressed policy and decision makers in an open letter sharing key recommendations on how governments, donors, UN and NGOs can deliver international aid in a conflict-sensitive way in the context of COVID-19. Along with tangible advice on best practice, the Conflict Sensitivity Community encourages decision makers to ensure that adjustments to the situation prioritise analysis and communication, local adaptation and the promotion of peace. Please read the full letter here.
In its role as the CSC Hub coordinator, PCi currently facilitates a range of exchanges between NGOs to commonly reflect on conflict-sensitive responses to COVID-19.