By providing regular cross-border dialogue spaces where communities can openly discuss the root causes of conflicts, we seek to establish a regional structure that can help rebuild trust and deconstruct negative stereotypes between Burundians, Congolese and Rwandans. The dialogue groups have helped develop consensus-based and locally-owned solutions, and have provided a space for decision makers to connect with and consult the local population on their needs, priorities and understanding of conflicts that afflict the region. It has become evident that these spaces and participants involved in them have inspired decision makers to directly engage local communities – both within and beyond the dialogue spaces.

Interpeace has implemented the “Cross-Border Dialogue for Peace in the Great Lakes” programme in partnership with six partner organizations from the region: the Centre for Conflict Alert and Prevention (CENAP) in Burundi; Never Again Rwanda (NAR) in Rwanda; and in the DRC, Action pour la Paix et la Concorde (APC), Pole Institute, Centre d’Etudes Juridiques Appliquées (CEJA) and Réseau d’Innovation Organisationnelle (RIO).