Project description

Title: Alliances for Peace in West Africa (support for the Gorée Institute)
Commissioned by: Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Country: Africa, transnational (based in Senegal)
Lead executing agency: Gorée Institute, based in Gorée (Senegal)
Overall term: September 2004 to December 2008

Context

In a growing number of West African countries, state systems, already instable, are being crippled if not fully destroyed by violent conflict. Local conflicts and long-standing differences have been fuelled by constant struggles for power and resources. The civilian population is hard hit by this development, and more and more people are falling below the poverty line. Instances of large-scale migration, an increasing willingness to use violence, manipulation through xenophobic ideologies, and a growing tendency toward isolation are all factors that greatly hamper the processes of economic development, social stability and political democratisation.

Civil society is often seen solely as the victim, its potential for creating and securing peace going unnoticed. If ordinary citizens from various countries and regions are to play an active role in the processes of change, they must develop patterns of behaviour that display good citizenship and link traditional values with modern responses to today’s challenges. This is one of the most important foundations for the development of peace in the region. African societies have indeed produced civil initiatives for peace building at the local level, but they are mostly overlooked and are poorly networked with one another.

Objective

There is greater awareness of traditional peace-building mechanisms throughout the various societies of West Africa, and these are increasingly used by local and regional actors.

Approach

The programme supports the Gorée Institute in Senegal to make such innovative approaches better known – approaches that are supported and put into effect by the citizens themselves. The methodology used involves the creation of a research, education and networking concept which promotes conflict resolution strategies that are adapted to African cultures. The experiences gained should be documented and passed on to others.

The project raises the profile and improves the efficiency of existing efforts for greater stability, the sustainability of which is ensured by their deeper foundations in West African society. The project helps to network these initiatives and also provides assistance with staff training.

Further information

• Website of L'Institut de Gorée
  www.goreeinstitute.org