Interpeace works with conflict-affected communities to strengthen their resilience in the face of conflict. This has been the core of Interpeace’s mandate for the past 30 years, and as such, Enhancing Resilience for Peace is the second pillar of Interpeace’s 2021–2025 strategy.

Interpeace works to build resilience among individuals, communities, and institutions. Behaviours, relationships, and systems must evolve in synch in order for societies to live more peaceful lives and work towards more peaceful futures.

Interpeace works with individuals to enhance the well-being, agency, and empowerment of people in conflict- or post-conflict settings, especially among underserved groups such as women and youth.

Access to livelihoods is essential for meeting daily needs. Limited access to livelihood opportunities is a proven driver of conflict, leaving communities more vulnerable to divisive narratives, more prone to accepting bribes or protection from dangerous actors, more tempted by violence to make ends meet, and less able to participate in governance and the social activities needed to strengthen the social fabric. In Burkina Faso, where violent extremism and recruitment into non-state armed groups are the primary drivers of conflict, 33% of participants in Interpeace projects reported that the basic needs of their household were now covered consistently from month to month—thanks to their involvement in livelihood creation and training activities lead by the Interpeace programming.

In terms of mental well-being, Rwanda is one of the most engaged countries in MHPSS. In 2024, 80% of the country’s programme participants reported improved well-being, illustrated by a better ability to handle everyday challenges, cope with unpleasant, painful emotions, and remain focused and think clearly. The impact of these improved abilities cannot be overstated in a context where the traumatic events of the conflict have caused long-term damage to the psyche of the population, fragilising their resilience to tensions and difficulties within and beyond the scope of peace and conflict, thus hampering the recovery of the entire country.

Individual resilience has also improved in the realm of governance and decision-making in societies where power is often concentrated away from the hands of local communities. In countries such as Guinea-Bissau, Interpeace and its partners work to strengthen community agency, especially for those who are traditionally afforded the fewest opportunities. In 2024, 90% of participants in the Guinea-Bissau Strengthening the Social Fabric and Fostering Youth Meaningful Participation in Decision-Making project reported satisfaction with their increased influence over decisions on issues that matter to them. This figure was 84% among participating women and 90% among participating youth.

At the community level, Interpeace programmes support the rekindling of relationships—forming formal and informal advocacy or conflict-resolution groups, as well as inter-group collaboration for joint economic ventures and social endeavours.

Inclusive governance means communities should feel included in community structures, which leads to outcomes that better meet their needs. In Mali, for example, 85% of participants in activities in 2024 reported feeling more included in decision-making, and 65% shared that community structures better address their needs, priorities, and grievances. This demonstrates a common observation across countries of intervention: an inclusive process is needed but not sufficient to ensure inclusive outcomes. Too often, inclusion can be performative, or the voices of new participants can be stifled within the decision-making process. By tracking both, Interpeace is committing to working not only to amplify new voices but also to meet their needs.

Ultimately, the aim of working towards inclusion and inclusivity, especially in contexts where conflict dynamics are intercommunal or interreligious, is to increase populations’ feelings of belonging and trust in the surrounding communities. Such was the case in Rwanda in 2024, where 89% of respondents reported feeling they belonged where they lived. Moreover, significant markers of trust between groups increased over the period. For example, 77% of respondents shared they would now consider leaving their child under the supervision of the families of survivors or perpetrators (up from 62.6%), and 87% reported they now would invite members of ex-prisoners or survivors’ families into their homes (up from 79.1%).

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), most project participants now perceive communities as more cohesive, even though they reported that politicians tried to sow their divisions for their own gain. This perception was particularly strong in Mai-Ndombe (73.7%), Central-Kasaï (64.2%) and Kasaï (61.2%), a considerable jump from 2023.

At the community level, Interpeace programmes support the rekindling of relationships—forming formal and informal advocacy or conflict-resolution groups, as well as inter-group collaboration for joint economic ventures and social endeavours.

Inclusive governance means communities should feel included in community structures, which leads to outcomes that better meet their needs. In Mali, for example, 85% of participants in activities in 2024 reported feeling more included in decision-making, and 65% shared that community structures better address their needs, priorities, and grievances. This demonstrates a common observation across countries of intervention: an inclusive process is needed but not sufficient to ensure inclusive outcomes. Too often, inclusion can be performative, or the voices of new participants can be stifled within the decision-making process. By tracking both, Interpeace is committing to working not only to amplify new voices but also to meet their needs.

Ultimately, the aim of working towards inclusion and inclusivity, especially in contexts where conflict dynamics are intercommunal or interreligious, is to increase populations’ feelings of belonging and trust in the surrounding communities. Such was the case in Rwanda in 2024, where 89% of respondents reported feeling they belonged where they lived. Moreover, significant markers of trust between groups increased over the period. For example, 77% of respondents shared they would now consider leaving their child under the supervision of the families of survivors or perpetrators (up from 62.6%), and 87% reported they now would invite members of ex-prisoners or survivors’ families into their homes (up from 79.1%).

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), most project participants now perceive communities as more cohesive, even though they reported that politicians tried to sow their divisions for their own gain. This perception was particularly strong in Mai-Ndombe (73.7%), Central-Kasaï (64.2%) and Kasaï (61.2%), a considerable jump from 2023.