INSIGHT ON CONFLICT

A web database of peacebuilding initiatives in conflict areas

These organisations, existing in tens, hundreds and even thousands are making major differences to the lives of the affected populations, thereforeit is essential their work must not go on unrecognised. The people who run these initiatives are the untapped resource which can make a fundamental difference to the security of the world’s people over the next twenty years. In many situations it is the internal conflicts that ravage the land, displacing so many and it is these, unknown, organisations that are working to repair the destructive cracks left in millions of lives.

The aim of Insight on Conflict’s project is to make these peacebuilders accessible to policy makers, the media and other practitioners. Their capability must be displayed to those who have the most to gain from working with them.

Local peacebuilding initiatives are barely mentioned in governmental policies towards preventing or managing conflict. We believe that this is not because they are considered unimportant – rather they are currently invisible from the standpoint of the both the government and media. Their visibility is often cloaked by a lack of funds and technological access, so in giving them this forum they will be able to share the work of their initiatives. As a result the gravity of what they are achieving, in the most difficult of circumstances, will be globally accessible.

Insight on Conflict will create a comprehensive database of peacebuilding initiatives in 30 conflict areas. These will include grassroots organisations who are working with little or no money but whose initiatives have an enriching and lasting effect on the communities. By ensuring the range of peacebuilding work in each country is visible to policymakers, the media and practitioners, we aim to increase the range of partnership opportunities. By heightening their profile and extending the funding network, these organisations will be given a central role in policy for conflict prevention.

In each conflict area a local correspondent works to research the projects of these grassroots peacebuilders and inputs information that will be compiled into the database. This is essential knowledge that has not been gained by any other resource, and it is the work of these correspondents in the field that provides access to a vast number of, otherwise unavailable, peacebuilders. Peace Direct’s role will be to ensure that the database draws on and does not duplicate other sources of information, as well as ensuring overall consistency, and promoting its use in Western countries.

We expect the database to be used by:

Policy makers in government and international organisations.

We have already had strong expressions of interest from the Post Conflict Reconstruction Unit, and from country officers in the UK Foreign Office. We believe that there is a growing recognition of the importance of civil society organisations in peacebuilding, but a critical lack of knowledge of activity on the ground in particular conflict areas.

Media Organisations.

There are well documented constraints on the willingness of the media to report conflict in other than ‘crisis’ terms. This must change and we believe that an accessible source of contacts, supported by local correspondents, will over time give peacebuilders a greater profile. This will hopefully ensure an increase in reporting that shows the greater picture of those supporting the displaced peoples so often shown on the news.

Peace practitioners.

It is not always easy for practitioners to know what other work is being carried out inside their country, or to find examples to learn from in different countries. The database will give people a short cut to finding other likeminded projects and glean advice from the practical initiatives others have already worked upon.

Expected outcomes

• Greater awareness of peacebuilding initiatives, their nature and major trends.
• Greater media coverage of peace building efforts
• Mutual support and exchange of knowledge between peace workers

Current areas of research:

Sudan, Niger Delta, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Colombia, Kenya, Philippines Insight on Conflict employs local correspondents in each area who can provide bespoke services, for example:

• Arranging interviews with key players in peace work,
• Advising on groups who can provide training or other services.

Contact francesca@peacedirect.org for more information.

Please email questions or comments to the Project Manager at lucy@peacedirect.org