The shortlist for Tomorrow’s Peacebuilders, our annual awards that celebrate the world’s most innovative locally-led peacebuilders, has been finalised – leaving 13 of the 244 applicants to pass through to the next stage of the competition.
After weeks of deliberation, the shortlist for this year’s prizes has now been finalised. 244 peacebuilding organisations from 61 countries entered this year, from which 13 successful entries have reached the next stage of assessment. Three winners will be decided by an international panel of judges.
The organisations offer a fascinating snapshot of locally-led peacebuilding efforts around the world. They come from every corner of the world, and despite their diverse backgrounds share in common a drive to tackle the root causes of conflict and build lasting peace within their communities. Three winners will be announced at a ceremony in December and will each receive $10,000 towards their project.
“Now in its fourth year, the Tomorrow’s Peacebuilders awards are a powerful reminder of the number of local people who are dedicated to building peace in their communities. It can be quite remarkable reviewing applications, speaking to the applicants and hearing about the variety and impact of the urgent work they undertake to stop conflict and build peace,” said Michela Locatelli, awards organiser.
“I am delighted Peace Direct is able to support local organisations like these that are making a real and lasting impact in their communities,” said Ruairi Nolan, Tomorrow’s Peacebuilders manager.
The shortlist is as follows:
- Association Burkinabè d’Action Communautaire – Burkina Faso.
Association Burkinabè d’Action Communautaire (ABAC) supports farmers and herders and gives them the skills, resources and techniques to effectively manage conflicts over land.
- Association pour la Promotion des Initiatives Communautaires (APICOM) – Democratic Republic of Congo
APICOM prevents and reduces communal tensions by providing training on human rights and supporting local mediation committees to intervene when disputes flare.
- Peace for All NG – Nigeria
Peace for All NG helps resolve conflicts between cattle herders and farmers over land grazing in rural areas, which often spark into violence. One of the organisation’s most significant achievements includes preventing and responding to the violent conflicts between Hausa farmers and Fulani pastoralists over the sharing of land and water in Northern Nigeria.
- Pilier aux Femmes Vulnérables Actives en RD Congo (PIFEVA) – Democratic Republic of Congo
PIFEVA works to promote gender equality and women’s leadership, and to support local communities to address poverty and injustice in South Kivu, DR Congo. During 2015, PIFEVA helped 611 people who have been victims of land conflicts in Eastern DR Congo by setting up Peace Committees and training people to effectively manage and transform conflicts.
- Adamawa Peacemakers Initiative – Nigeria
Adamawa Peacemakers Initiative (API) uses sport and IT as medium to foster peace, tolerance and reconciliation amongst young people, particularly following a rise in tensions between Christians and Muslims. To counter the threat of militant group Boko Haram, the organisation also supports young people at risk of radicalisation.
- Interfaith Mediation Centre – Nigeria
Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) was founded in 1995 by an Imam and a Pastor, both of whom describe themselves as former fundamentalists deeply involved in street-level violence. The organisation now has over 20,000 community members. IMC works to prevent violent extremism, mediates in community conflict and manages cross-community reconciliation activities, such as rebuilding places of worship destroyed in violence.
- Jerusalem Intercultural Center – Israel-Palestine
Run by Israelis and Palestinians, Jerusalem Intercultural Center (JICC) facilitates communication between different religious communities to foster trust and understanding. JICC also develops programs on leadership and language training – in both Hebrew and Arabic – in order to ensure all Jerusalemites (Israelis and Palestinians) have equal access to basic services.
- World Peace Embassy – Cameroon
World Peace Embassy (WPE) is dedicated to improving religious tolerance and cooperation in North Cameroon. Through training religious leaders, civil society, young people, and law enforcement, WPE works to combat what they see as a growing potential for violent conflict between Christian and Muslim communities.
- Progressive Public Association of Women (PPAW) Mutakalim – Kyrgyzstan
PPAW Mutakalim works to promote women’s rights, prevent discrimination and advance inter-religious dialogue and peace in Kyrgyzstan. The organisation has a particular focus on Muslim women, seeing this group as under-represented and marginalised in Kyrgyzstan.
- Community Support for Development in Kisumu – Kenya
Community Support for Development in Kisumu (CSD Kisumu) works to build peace in Kenya by supporting women to take a leading role in human rights and peacebuilding. Through their “Voices of Concern” project they have trained 157 female activists to work with local authorities to minimise violence during elections. The organisation has also established an early warning and response centre to report on human right violations and coordinate interventions.
- Women For Development – Russia
Women for Development’s projects tackle gender-based violence, educate communities on the risks of early marriage, and address local stereotypes that prevent women from enjoying their rights. The biggest achievement was the ban of the local custom of “stealing brides”, which allowed the kidnapping of a girl if she refused to marry a man. The organisation also runs projects to prevent young women and girls from joining radical and extremist activities.
- Fonds pour les Femmes Congolaises – Democratic Republic of Congo
Fonds pour les Femmes Congolaises (FFC) is a monetary fund that provides financial resources and technical support to women-led grassroots initiatives and organisations in the DR Congo. FFC was established to fund Congolese Women’s groups that were not able to access funding – bridging the gap between international donors and local women’s initiatives. Since 2010 FFC has supported 195 projects of 120 grassroots organisations working across the country.
- The Story Kitchen – Nepal
The Story Kitchen’s (TSK) mission is to amplify women’s stories through media. TSK trained 35 women who are survivors of gender-based violence during Nepal’s civil war as Justice Reporters. The Justice Reporters collect testimonies of other female conflict survivors. TSK shares these stories on national radio programmes and facilitates their access to the transitional justice commissions of Nepal.
For more information on the awards, see: http://www.peacedirect.org/tp/
If you would like to know more about our awards ceremony in London next month, please contact Ruth Tidy: [email protected]
