Burundi Peace Clubs & localized Peacebuilding

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

Peace Clubs experience during 2010 elections in Burundi? Objective: Evaluating peace clubs competencies and strengths to prevent / manage electoral conflicts. strengths to prevent / manage electoral conflicts.  How do Peace Club actions contribute to the local process of peace building?  What are the competencies of Peace Clubs in the monitoring and evaluation of their actions?  What are the effects of Peace Club actions?

Lessons learnt from the findings  Awareness: Peace clubs are sensitive about peacebuilding problematic. They believe that as a social group fighting for common cause with one voice, no matter what costs and time that would take, together as one they can still make important change in their society.

Lessons learnt  Conviction of community participation: “ You should acknowledge our mission as local peacebuilders and tell the NTRC to come to learn from our experience” ; that’s what peace clubs told parliamentarians & governors when they met last December. “ You should acknowledge our mission as local peacebuilders and tell the NTRC to come to learn from our experience” ; that’s what peace clubs told parliamentarians & governors when they met last December.  Regular community sessions on context analysis helps peace clubs monitor drivers of conflict in their areas. Then, they become sensitive to issues related to social discrimination, social injustice, corruption, inequality, resources management like land conflicts and human rights.

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

Challenges  Shortage / lack of financial resources limits their interventions.  Political instability: The more governmental institutions & structures are corrupt, the more peace clubs initiatives are affected. (e.g. The process of recruitment by the new rebellion is affecting their activities - political corruption and manipulation, etc). (e.g. The process of recruitment by the new rebellion is affecting their activities - political corruption and manipulation, etc).

Future perspectives: ???

Thanks for your attention!