Our Sectors
Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
In addition to poverty, post-conflict situations are often characterized by mistrust and anxiety. In post-conflict contexts, peacebuilding approaches aim to strengthen and solidify the foundations of peace to prevent further conflicts and build a favourable environment for sustainable development.
CHF believes that a Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) complemented by peacebuilding interventions is part of the solution to post-conflict development efforts. We believe that addressing the causes of poverty and destitution is essential to promoting reconciliation, institution building and the re-establishment of trust, and is crucial to reduce the likelihood of relapse into conflict.
CHF has developed a set of approaches, techniques and methods that have proven effective in implementing sustainable livelihoods enhancement projects in conflict-affected countries and regions. Our interventions include:
- To facilitate the smooth reintegration of returnees by helping communities increase their well-being through identification and exploitation of new economic opportunities
- To support local organizations and positive leaders to take on a peacebuilding and mediation role in their community
- To implement outreach activities and to promote the use of tools and techniques used to defuse conflicts before they escalate
- To provide peace education and conflict transformation training
- To promote transparency, accountability and good governance
Examples of CHF Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution projects:
In El Salvador, CHF worked with community leaders, municipalities and relevant NGOs to strengthen their capacity to negotiate and transform conflicts related to water and natural resources. The Peace Building Approach to Water Conflict project empowered communities to use non-violent approaches when dealing with environmental conflicts.
Since 1999, CHF has implemented a number of peace and sustainable livelihoods-related projects in Southern Sudan. The Harmonizing the Objectives of People’s Efforts project, for instance, used peacebuilding approaches and provided peace education and conflict transformation training to key stakeholders. The project supported the development of “linkages of trust” groups composed of various community members and able to develop appropriate methods for dealing with conflicts in their area.
