Strengthening Peace Committees in Baidoa – Bulla Jay

By ANPPCANSOM 

At ANPPCAN-SOM, we are highly dedicated to promoting peace, reconciliation, and social cohesion among the Somali communities. On 28th July 2024, a community outreach session was done in Baidoa – Bulla Jay as part of our PROSPER-SOCO project, funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund. This project aims to strengthen local peace committees in their mandate and functions, core to the reconciliation and reintegration processes in the region.

Empowerment of Peace Committees

The community outreach session was attended by 30 individuals, including members of local peace committees. The principal objective of the outreach was to enhance their capacity in reconciliation and reintegration. These committees play a very vital role in mediating conflicts, enhancing dialogues, and making people feel united within their communities.

We shared some vital information on the roles and functions of peace committees with the participants in the session. It has been learnt how these committees play a very important role in resolving conflicts and in reintegrating the marginalized groups back into the community. Knowing the responsibilities and impacts, the committee members would be better placed to handle the challenges.

Key Objectives and Outcomes

A number of key objectives were focused on in this outreach session:

Capacity Building: We sought to build capacity through the provision of targeted training and information to existing peace committees. This is to enable them to manage the process of reconciliation and reintegration effectively for sustainable peace and cohesion.

Information Provision: The session was also used to deliver crucial information about their roles and functions. This information is important in equipping the committee members with how to navigate certain situations and make informed decisions.

Community Involvement: We tried to impress on them that almost every process of peacebuilding has to be shared with the community. If the broader community is involved, then the peace committee will be in a better position to build trust and foster collaboration.

Desired outcomes include an increased number of reconciliations and successful reintegration in the Baidoa-Bulla Jay community. We also see a rise in trust and integration into the community, as people build confidence in the peace committees’ capacity for mediation and resolution of conflicts.

The Way Forward

This community outreach session is one of many activities being carried out across the country as part of our overall effort toward promoting peace and social cohesion in Somalia. The farther we go into our efforts in the districts of Baidoa and Hudur, so much do we stand by the continued empowerment of local communities with knowledge and tools to lead peaceful and resilient futures.

We would like to extend our gratitude to GCERF, whose support has made all this possible, and to the participants who contributed their valuable time and energy toward the noble cause. Together, we are doing the best we can in giving Somaliland a more harmonious and united Somalia.

More updates on our projects and initiatives are coming up. May we continue working as one to bring permanent peace and prosperity to our communities.