Engaging with armed groups can be essential to building peace
Peace & Governance ▼World
The Problem
Building peace takes time. Simply ending conflict is not the same as ending violence. If we are not addressing the underlying causes of conflict then violence is likely to occur again. Establishing a sustainable peace often requires a long process of supporting dialogue, repairing relationships, and addressing the root causes of conflict. Working with all those involved in and affected by a conflict is critical to bring about lasting change.
The Solution
Making the case for peace building! Conciliation Resources is encouraging dialogue and promoting understanding, which requires face-to-face meetings, often across borders and in remote and unstable areas. Strengthening policy and practice requires high-level engagement with domestic governments, regional and international bodies, as well as in depth academic research and thinking. While humanitarian aid is often the face of conflicts, with more people invested and committed to peace building, we will help prevent violence in the first place.
Skills needed
Making the case for peacebuilding. SKILLS: Market research, expertise in conducting focus groups & analysis
Last year, Conciliation Resources conducted a peacebuilding public awareness survey in the UK, Germany and the U.S. They tested opinions on engaging with armed groups in the pursuit of peace, for example. Findings showed considerable support for greater investment in peacebuilding. They are keen to take this research further, to understand better what different groups think and feel towards approaches to building peace, and how Conciliation Resources can best make the case for peacebuilding.
Reaching a wider audience.
SKILLS: Coms strategy and brand positioning
How can Conciliation Resources reach broader audiences and share the vital work and lessons learned to build peace? They need your help in finding ways to use social media and digital communication to amplify their voice and tell their stories.
Help with business development.
SKILLS: Business and fundraising
Conciliation Resources is mainly funded by governemnt and institutional donors. They would like to diversify their donor base and would benefit from strategic advise on how to take their existing approach further to reach out to entrepreneurs and businesses.
Who
Jonathan Cohen
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Jonathan Cohen has been working in peacebuilding for the past 25 years. As the director, his work focused on dialogue, confidence-building and mediation support he has supported initiatives in the Caucasus, Kashmir, Colombia, the Phlippines and Sub-Saharan Africa
Why WTT supports Conciliation Resources
Conciliation Resources needs unrestricted funding (rather than project-specific funding provided by institutions) in order to, for example engage with interlocutors in extremely challenging situations and contexts – such as the Local Peace Committees in Central African Republic; journalists working across the Line of Control in Kashmir, or the group of Colombian Diaspora Women in London (who are feeding testimony into the reconciliation process in Colombia).+ Donate by Bank Transfer (free)
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