Getting ‘real’ about virtual peace-building Information communication technology and the reintegration of ex-combatants Guy Lamb Safety and Violence Initiative University of Cape Town

If mobile phones (ICT) & Facebook can used to mobilise for revolution, can they be used to foster peace?

Dramatic growth in mobile phone access

Massive expansion in global social media usage (millions of users)

Facebook for Every Phone: Broadening access to social media

Is there any relevance of ICT & social media for the reintegration of ex-combatants? Ex-combatants are a key component of the peace equation in post-conflict societies Greatest challenges facing ex-combatants are income generation & social reintegration into a non-military society International organizations have devoted billions of dollars to various programmes in Africa since the 1970s Yielded modest results Opportunities for different types of programming?

About the research Commissioned by the TDRP, World Bank (2012/13) Researchers: Guy Lamb, Orly Stern, Gregory Mthembu-Salter and Marina Reyskens Qualitative case study: In-country research: Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Uganda; data analysis of 11 other African countries with DDR programmes (existing & emerging) Assessment of the use of ICT in related sectors: early warning; humanitarian/disaster relief; post-conflict reconstruction

Possible ICT & social media tools for the reintegration of ex-combatants in Africa

Interactive real-time mapping

Use of Ushahidi in crisis response

Geospatial analysis and the monitoring (e.g. Eyes on Darfur)

Text message reporting & querying

Social media campaigning: From ‘clicktivism’ to change

ICT resource centres

Family reunification resources

Mobile money

Current & emerging DDR programmes in Africa: ICT reality

Social media use in African DDR countries

Beyond the ICT hype and ‘culture’ of ICT use Significant national variations in ICT culture Phones used predominantly for voice Mobile phone network have limited capacity for data transfer (including Internet access) Data costs are exceedingly expensive Suspicion of newer forms of ICT & paranoia High levels of illiteracy Electricity to charge phones? Social media mainly applicable the digitally savvy (external diaspora) NB: Traditional DDR programming approaches still have value