Project description

Title: Forum for Dialogue and Peace
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Malawi
Lead executing agency: Malawian National Assembly
Overall term: 2002 to 2009

Context

Since the political change to a multi-party system in 1994, Malawian society has struggled increasingly with political and social conflict. These conflicts are frequently not resolved openly, transparently or non-violently. Particularly in the run-up to elections, there have been violent confrontations between governmental and civil society decision-makers. Competencies and capacity for constructive conflict resolution exist to a limited extent only. Furthermore, large sections of the population are excluded from participative, poverty-oriented and democratic policymaking.

Objective

Both governmental and civil society organisations in Malawi carry out effective and citizen-friendly measures for non-violent conflict resolution and crisis prevention. Democratic structures are stabilised, and policymaking is participative and poverty-oriented.

Approach

Training and transfer of competencies for conflict prevention and resolution
The project provided sectoral, methodological and financial support for political and civil society organisations for conflict prevention and resolution. Individual competencies were strengthened, and mechanisms and institutions were developed for non-violent settlement of conflicts. The project also contributed to the immediate application of these newly-gained competencies to the settlement of ongoing conflicts.

Networking among governmental and non-governmental bodies
The project worked at local, regional and national levels. The informal legal system was supported at community level, while at district level, Multi-Party Liaison Committees enabled political dialogue between parties and with civil society groups. At national level, networks and an association for mediators of politically sensitive conflicts were set up and forums created for their coordination and cooperation. The dialogues between parliamentary parties and between elected deputies and the people were of particular significance.

The successful implementation of the concept has led to two cofinancing initiatives with the British Department for International Development (DfID).

Results achieved so far

From 2002 to 2009, the Forum for Dialogue and Peace has supported Malawian society in the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts. The experience of this innovative project underscores the important role of conflict prevention and promoting dialogue in support of the rule of law and democratisation. The implementation of peaceful conflict settlement, a Malawian constitutional principle, has been promoted by a wide variety of stakeholders.

The conflict settlement capacity of governmental and non-governmental bodies has been strengthened, and this is now being successfully applied. National and decentralised conflict settlement committees have led to cooperation with civil society and political stakeholders, and are contributing to constructive conflict resolution processes.

The two regional offices in the North (Rumphi) and the South (Mulanje) have helped to defuse social and political conflicts, and also to resolve some of them.

Access to the traditional systems of law at community level has been conceptually and operationally improved.

Training modules have significantly increased institutional capacity and stakeholder potential in resolving conflict, preventing crises and engaging in dialogue. Institutions such as universities, the army and the police have adopted conflict management in their regular curricula.

In 2004, the Malawian peace accord was signed, in which all social groups made a commitment to non-violent coexistence in the run-up to elections.

Multi-party committees at district level have prevented the outbreak of violent conflict, particularly in the run-up to the elections, and have significantly reduced the number of complaints brought before the Malawian electoral commission.

Mediators trained and supported by the project have been appointed by conflicting parties to mediate in political conflicts at national level, and made a major contribution towards defusing conflicts between the government and the opposition in 2007 and 2008.