Building Capacity to Resolve Conflict in Côte d’Ivoire
Search for Common Ground’s “Reconciliation of Conflict in Divided Communities” project, funded by USAID, began in late 2009. The project aims to facilitate the reconciliation of divided ethnic and religious groups in specific areas of Côte d’Ivoire, by building community leaders’ skills, knowledge, and confidence in conflict resolution, and by creating opportunities for dialogue at the community and regional level.
Local leaders gather to share their conflict resolution experiences during a recent Day of Solidarity, held on April 22, 2010.
In the rural regions of Bas Sassandra and Eighteen Mountains, SFCG’s project has made significant progress in strengthening the capacity of both traditional leaders and other community members to use the tools and processes of conflict resolution. SFCG has used several strategies in building local capacity including:
- Conflict management trainings for over 143 local leaders on types of conflict and techniques for conflict resolution
- Integrated dialogue sessions on key conflict issues such as resettlement, identity, the Land Law and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)
- Solidarity events, exchanges of experience, radio programming, and community theater.
Women have especially benefited from SFCG’s programming and have come to play an integral role in local conflict resolution efforts in some communities. Ms. Goli Kla, who was involved in efforts at building a local school in her community of Tabou, reflected on the importance of SFCG’s training for her and other women saying, “Women rarely intervene in resolving conflicts at the local level. One consults a woman last.”
After SFCG training, Ms. Kla had both the skills and courage to approach the local leaders of two villages who were not cooperating in the building of the local school. She helped expose the origins of the conflict and assisted in the mediation process. The local leadership was then able to work collaboratively to build a school where children from the two villages attended and socialized together.
Women from Bin-houyé (Katouo) asked to help mediate a land dispute between two cousins, based on their SFCG training.
Women from Bin-houyé used the training they received to help solve a land dispute between two cousins. Where local traditional leaders had failed, these women impressed the entire community with their conflict resolution ability, using mediation techniques to establish a new border between the two properties.
In Their Own Words:
The “Reconciliation of Conflict in Divided Communities” project has personally impacted participants, and through them, their communities.
We women — your daughters, your sisters, your mothers — solved a land dispute her in Katouo. I invite all women to involve themselves in conflict resolution. […] In ancient times, women never did so, but today, the training we received from SFCG is changing the past. Today is a day of social cohesion and of cultural transformation that will allow women to contribute positively to the conflicts that occur in their communities.
~Ms. Delphine Touadego, SFCG Facilitator in Bin-Houyé
When we arrived in Katouo, […] we tried to solve the land dispute between Césaire and Victor according to the training we received from SFCG. First we approached the village leader, because in order to solve a conflict all parties need to be involved. Then we used mediation to find a solution.
~Ms. Armelle Séa, member of the Group of Women Patriots of Bin-Houyé
I didn’t participate in the training SFCG gave, but I benefitted from the sessions held after that training by Delphine Touadego. She explained how to use mediation and how to use collaborative approaches to conflict. We have come to Katouo several times to help resolve conflicts [using this training].
~Ms. Eugénie Seleu
This story was sent in by a friend and is a great reminder that there are many ways, large and small, to share culture, commonalities and differences – all while building tolerance and perspective. Food is often a way of sharing culture and hospitality and as a bonus, the food at Kubideh Kitchen looks mouth-watering!
“Just today I came across this place called Kubideh Kitchen, which is a “conflict kitchen” in
Kubideh Kitchen storefront
my neighborhood here in Pittsburgh. It sells food from countries that the U.S. is in conflict with, such as Iran and Afghanistan. While I couldn’t order any food this afternoon, I talked with the man working there who explained to me the concept of a conflict kitchen, and how the restaurant project hoped to get people talking and re-thinking their perceptions of other countries that we are in conflict with. When I picked up what looked like a menu, I discovered that the “menu” was a pamphlet of interviews from Iranians who shared their perspectives on everything from nuclear power to Iran’s position on the state of Israel.”
Preparing the Kubideh
The kitchen will rotate identities every four months to highlight another country the US is in conflict with. In addition to food, the kitchen will host events, performances and discussions about the culture and politics of the featured country. Developed in collaboration with members of Pittsburgh’s Iranian community, Kubideh Kitchen serves kubideh in freshly baked barbari bread with onion, mint and basil.
The menu/interview sheet is especially interesting.
We’re always looking for stories of people dealing with conflict in interesting ways. So if you have an interesting story send it our way!
Blogging for the Huffington Post, Elise Crane talks about the power of media for peacebuilding. This article is the first in a series on peace media. Crane highlight SFCG efforts while also looking toward the use of new media to build bridges and transform conflict:
“Contemporary peace media is perhaps best represented by Search for Common Ground (SFCG), which among its other activities has demonstrated the power of community radio programming to bridge group divisions. SFCG’s seventeen projects span four continents and its website (http://www.sfcg.org/resources/resources_home.html) offers extensive practical resources for peace media in the field. The common thread throughout SFCG’s programming is its emphasis on providing balanced information “as a way of building (or re-building) a sense of common identity” by highlighting common “problems and challenges.” The universality–and lack of a literacy threshold–of radio has made it a particularly successful medium in Africa, which is home to the majority of SFCG’s programming. Such programs as Burundi’s Studio Ijambo seek to unite previously warring parties by identifying common ground on multiple levels.”
Read the rest of the article here.
In the wake of flotilla tragedy, work for peace
Pro-Palestinian activists (c) AP
by Dalila Mahdawi
Common Ground News Service
Beirut – The tragic bloodshed aboard the MV Mavi Marmara aid ship has, justifiably, provoked criticism about Israel’s use of force against civilian populations. It has also, if somewhat tardily, refocused the international community’s attention on the need for an immediate end to the siege on Gaza.
Louise Arbor, President of the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to preventing and resolving deadly conflict, was quoted in The Independent as saying: “It is easy to condemn Israel’s attack on a flotilla of aid bound for Gaza as unnecessary, ill-conceived and disproportionate. What is harder to do – but what must now be done – is understand how this incident is an indictment of a much broader policy toward Gaza for which the wider international community bears responsibility.” Arbor’s argument, however, doesn’t go far enough in recognising that the latest bloodshed is also an indictment of the international community’s failure to prioritise and pursue a just peace process.
Lifting the blockade on Gaza’s 1.8 million residents is a much required step, as is a full and independent investigation into what occurred on the flotilla, but both are only part and parcel of the more urgent need to end a 62-year-old conflict.
What is required now, just when it seems least likely, is the immediate resumption of peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Rather than serve as another opportunity to exchange fiery political rhetoric and further entrench divisions between two already polarised communities, let the deaths of those aboard the Mavi Marmara provide the impetus needed to persuade both Palestinians and Israelis to return to the negotiating table once and for all.
Unfortunately, however, reactions to the flotilla killings from international power brokers like the United States, Canada and Great Britain suggest little change to the status quo. Watered-down comments, such as Ottawa and Washington’s expressions of “deep regret”, are counterproductive and suggest an unwillingness to make any definitive statement on moving the peace process forward. Even the United Nations has only condemned in nebulous terms the “acts” aboard the flotilla and urged an investigation “conforming to international standards.”
Few countries have mentioned the need for constructive dialogue and as emotions run high, it is possible indirect peace talks launched just a few weeks ago will stall. But as French President Nicolas Sarkozy noted a few days ago: “Lasting peace and security in the region can be achieved only through peaceful dialogue and not through use of force.”
Western and Arab nations have remained largely silent throughout decades of appalling violence and suffering, but they must now find their voices. They are not only complicit in Monday’s tragedy, but also in the failure to achieve peace. The road towards a lasting and just peace, as countless failed negotiations testify, is one fraught with obstacles. But the difficulties can and must be overcome.
Violence and finger-pointing is unsustainable – only a decisive agreement will protect the rights of the Palestinians and provide assurances to the Israelis. The two sides must accept the inevitability of peace and coexistence, and the international community must help them achieve that.
The United States, Israel’s closest friend, has the biggest role to play in coaxing along negotiations. When US President Barack Obama addressed the Muslim world in Cairo last year and pledged to seek a new era in relations, he was lauded by the Palestinians as setting the tone for a more balanced American policy in the Middle East. Now is the time for him to seize the opportunity and live up to his words.
If anything is to be gained from the flotilla deaths and injuries, it is that they will symbolise a critical moment in reigniting peace-building efforts. If the opportunity for a peace settlement is squandered, it is inevitable that such bloody confrontations will only continue. Let us hope that international outrage at such senseless and avoidable violence will push the world into demanding an end to the bloodshed and hatred that led to it in the first place, working alongside both Palestinians and Israelis for a sustainable, constructive solution.
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* Dalila Mahdawi is an Arab-British journalist focusing on human rights issues. She is currently based in Beirut. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).
Read the article in its original form here.
The Institute for Economics and Peace announced the results of their 2010 Global Peace Index yesterday. The study, launched in 2007, is the first to rank nations by their peacefulness. The 2010 results are notable for their ability to look at changes in peace over time. The 149 countries included in the study are ranked on peacefulness based on 20 indicators level of organized conflict, relations with neighboring countries and level of distrust in other citizens. The results suggested that the world has become slightly less peaceful in the last four years. Since 2007, only the following four indicators have shown overall improvement:
- Ease of access to weapons of minor destruction
- Potential for terrorist acts
- Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP
- Respect for human rights
The Rankings
New Zealand took top honors but the Scandinavian countries had the best regional showing, all ranking in the top 10 for peacefulness. An interesting fact, the top three countries in the index are islands. Although Sub-Saharan Africa remains the least peaceful region, it was one of only two regions (along with the Middle East & North Africa) to show improvements in peacefulness. Two countries where SFCG works, Angola and Cote d’Ivoire, along with Uganda, showed the biggest improvements towards peacefulness within the region. The United States was ranked 85/149; it had a medium state of peace, around the same level as China and Serbia. Perhaps not surprisingly, Iraq was ranked lowest with Somalia and Afghanistan scoring only marginally higher.
Some quick takeaways:
9 Habits of Peaceful Societies:
- Well functioning government
- Sound business environment
- Respectful of human rights and tolerance
- Good relations with neighboring states
- High levels of freedom of information
- Acceptance of others
- High participation rates in primary and secondary education
- Low levels of corruption
- Equitable sharing of resources
Peace Pays:
- From 2006-2009 the total economic impact of the cessation of violence could have been US$ 28.2 trillion
- Reducing global violence by 25% would have yielded an annual US$1.85 trillion in additional or redirected economic activities
- As the world’s largest economy, the United States’ potential dynamic peace dividend for 2009 was in excess of US$1 trillion (approximately 7% of actual US GDP)
- Countries with a high per capita income, large GDPs and lower levels of peacefulness have the largest possible gains in absolute terms. This I highly relevant for multi-national corporation who have an interest in tapping into the peace dividend
- If the world were 25% more peaceful this would have achieved an additional $1.85 trillion which would be redirected to other activities. For example, if the G20 countries were to pay 0.7 of their GDP to meet the Millennium Development Goals, then the savings in one year alone could fun MDG commitments for six years!
It’s a fascinating study, definitely worth a deeper look. Read more here!
The world cup is just around the corner and in honor of the world’s biggest sporting event, we have some TEAM updates from our shows around the world!
Côte d’Ivoire
The TEAM: Cote d'Ivoire
The TEAM Côte d’Ivoire Season 1 has been pre-selected at the 10th Festival du Cinéma Image et Vie (10thCinema Festival, Images and Life) that will be happening in Dakar, Senegal between 15-19 June. French speakers can visit the website to find out more.
Of the countries that the TEAM currently airs in, Cote d’Ivoire is the only one with a team qualifying for the World Cup. Fans of Les Éléphants, as they are affectionately called, must be happy that Didier Drogba, the captain and star looks like he will play on the world stage after all!
The DRC
The DRC has one of the most pluralistic media environments in the world, with more than 450 radio stations and more than 100 television stations. In the capital—Kinshasa—alone, there are 51 Congolese television stations, and surveys show that television is the preferred source of information for Kinshasa’s 10 million residents. With this enormous potential for TV to bring about social change, Search for Common Ground has begun television production and training, using different formats and innovative production-based training approaches. One of these productions is the DRC installment of The TEAM.
Filming L'Equipe in the DRC
The Congolese version of The Team, L’Equipe, focuses on an all- female football team, ironically named ‘The Mosquitoes’ whose two main characters struggle with issues of sexual violence, corruption, tribalism, impunity and reconciliation, as they try to lead the Mosquitoes team to victory. The series handles issues of conflict and good governance, resonating with the metaphor: “If we don’t collaborate, we won’t score goals.” The series finished its 45 day shoot in late January, and is expected to be on air by July 2010. Watch your screens!
1974 Zaire Leopards
You won’t be able to see DRC’s “Leopards” this world cup but as Zaire they were the first Black African team to participate in a FIFA World Cup and they won the 2009 African Championship of Nations.
Palestine
The Team is now making its debut in Palestine, where it will be broadcast in West Bank cities as the lead-in show immediately before the nighttime World Cup matches. The series has an all-Palestinian cast and crew and has become Palestine’s largest TV production ever!
Behind the scenes on the The TEAM: Palestine
Although Palestine hasn’t qualified for this year’s World Cup, the sport continues to be a symbol of unity. 2008 marked the team’s first home match on Palestinian soil, which showed how much of a unifying force football can be.
