Burundi Peace Clubs & localized Burundi Peace Clubs & localized

PeacebuildingPeacebuilding

Process and achievementsProcess and achievements

Burundi Burundi strategic direction relating to strategic direction relating to PeacebuilidingPeacebuiliding::

“ “Promote and support reconciliation Promote and support reconciliation efforts by conflict-sensitive efforts by conflict-sensitive interventions and an on-going analysis interventions and an on-going analysis of conflict at different levels (local, of conflict at different levels (local, national and regional), and to support national and regional), and to support formal and informal structures in their formal and informal structures in their efforts to strengthen good governance”.efforts to strengthen good governance”.

Peace Clubs experience during 2010 Peace Clubs experience during 2010 elections in Burundi?elections in Burundi?

Objective: Evaluating peace clubs competencies and Objective: Evaluating peace clubs competencies and strengths to prevent / manage electoral strengths to prevent / manage electoral

conflicts.conflicts.

How do Peace Club actions contribute to the local How do Peace Club actions contribute to the local process of peace building?process of peace building?

What are the competencies of Peace Clubs in the What are the competencies of Peace Clubs in the monitoring and evaluation of their actions?monitoring and evaluation of their actions?

What are the effects of Peace Club actions?What are the effects of Peace Club actions?

Lessons learnt from the findingsLessons learnt from the findings

AwarenessAwareness: Peace clubs are sensitive about : Peace clubs are sensitive about

peacebuilding problematic. They believe that peacebuilding problematic. They believe that as a social group fighting for common cause as a social group fighting for common cause with one voice, no matter what costs and time with one voice, no matter what costs and time that would take, together as one they can still that would take, together as one they can still make important change in their society.make important change in their society.

Lessons learntLessons learnt Conviction of community participation: Conviction of community participation:

“ “ You should acknowledge our mission as local You should acknowledge our mission as local peacebuilders and tell the NTRC to come to learn peacebuilders and tell the NTRC to come to learn from our experience” ; that’s what peace clubs told from our experience” ; that’s what peace clubs told parliamentarians & governors when they met last parliamentarians & governors when they met last December. December.

Regular community sessions on context analysis Regular community sessions on context analysis helps peace clubs monitor drivers of conflict in their helps peace clubs monitor drivers of conflict in their areas. Then, they become sensitive to issues related areas. Then, they become sensitive to issues related to social discrimination, social injustice, corruption, to social discrimination, social injustice, corruption, inequality, resources management like land conflicts inequality, resources management like land conflicts and human rights.and human rights.

ChallengesChallenges

Lack of linkages between peace clubs and Lack of linkages between peace clubs and the civil society NGOs: the civil society NGOs:

Main civil society NGOs are operating at the Main civil society NGOs are operating at the national level with some sporadic activities national level with some sporadic activities at the grassroots level; and peace clubs are at the grassroots level; and peace clubs are not associated at all to peacebuilding efforts not associated at all to peacebuilding efforts taking place at the national level (see taking place at the national level (see recommendations from the film about the recommendations from the film about the NCTR).NCTR).

Challenges Challenges Shortage / lack of financial resources Shortage / lack of financial resources

limits their interventions.limits their interventions.

Political instability: The more Political instability: The more governmental institutions & structures are governmental institutions & structures are corrupt, the more peace clubs initiatives corrupt, the more peace clubs initiatives are affected.are affected.

(e.g. The process of recruitment by the (e.g. The process of recruitment by the new rebellion is affecting their activities - new rebellion is affecting their activities - political corruption and manipulation, etc).political corruption and manipulation, etc).

Future perspectives:Future perspectives:

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Thanks for your attention!Thanks for your attention!