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Côte d’Ivoire

Context

Since the end of the socio-political crisis in 2011, the situation in Côte d’Ivoire has become more stable and the country has gradually entered a reconstruction phase. A number of major infrastructure projects initiated by the state have resulted in continued economic growth. Despite these positive developments, the socio-political situation remains fragile. Tensions between communities exist within the city of Abidjan, and in the forest area of the west, both areas being home to much of the socio-political tensions and violence that have affected Côte d’Ivoire for over a decade. Interpeace has been engaged in Côte d’Ivoire since 2012, working with local partner Indigo Côte d’Ivoire (CI). Interpeace and Indigo CI have been particularly active in the western regions of the country, where our 2013 and 2017 participatory action research projects revealed that the main challenges to social cohesion and lasting peace is a widespread feeling of ‘self-victimization’, a trust crisis between the populations and the local authorities, and tensions around the figure of the foreigner. Since 2015, Interpeace and Indigo-CI have also engaged on issues of youth violence and resilience to violence, including in Abidjan, through participatory research projects, as well as operational initiatives aimed at reintegrating youth gang members within their communities.

Goal


Together with Indigo Côte d’Ivoire, we aim to consolidate our position in the field of social cohesion, with a strong emphasis on conflict prevention and management, as well as youth (resilience to) violence, by engaging local actors, citizens and local authorities alike, towards the participatory analysis on, and the strengthening of local responses to local challenges to peace.

Initiatives

PRECIS Project - Prevention of political violence and strengthening of democratic governance through collaborative, citizen mediation in three risk areas in Côte d'Ivoire

Despite the end of the socio-political crisis in 2011 and the constant economic growth, Côte d'Ivoire remains vulnerable to political violence. The upcoming presidential elections in October 2020 are already a source of instability and could be the trigger of an outburst of violence. In this context, Interpeace, in partnership with Indigo Côte d'Ivoire and SeeD (Centre for Sustainable Peace and ...
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YPS (Youth Peace and Security) in practice: (Self-)analysis and leadership reinforcement of young people in preventing political violence in Côte d'Ivoire

Funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), this 18-month project aims to support the practical implementation of the United Nations’ Agenda on Youth Peace and Security (YPS), mainly by supporting and “working with” existing youth-led initiatives that engage in peacebuilding activities in their respective communities. The Ivorian youth is commonly perceived as a key actor of polit...
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Helping re-shape national policy on Islamic Education Structures

Interpeace is supporting the Ivorian Ministry of Education in shaping the development of the “National Strategy on Integration of (students of) Islamic Education Structures in the formal education system in Côte d’Ivoire”. The stakes are high for this integration process, because a significant number of children who attend Islamic education structures (which are mostly not officially recogn...
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Strengthening participatory governance on land tenure in rural areas

In 2019, Interpeace and Indigo Côte d'Ivoire initiated a Project in the Mountain District and the Worodougou Region, whose objective is to contribute to the sustainable and inclusive governance of the State-led process consisting in securing land tenure and protecting specific areas. Through this EU-funded initiative, the aim is to generate, within populations, a good understanding and full parti...
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Fostering sustainable social cohesion

In the Western District of “Les Montagnes,” Interpeace and Indigo Côte d’Ivoire, with the support of the EU, were able to (1) foster collaboration and increased trust between local authorities and Peace Committees in 9 localities (informal committees that aim at preventing or solving local conflicts) in Western Côte d’Ivoire; and (2) enhance the conflict management skills of the members ...
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Destigmatizing the so-called “microbe” youth

The perceptions and attitudes of parents, teachers, communities and journalists towards the so-called “microbe” children (youth gang members) have positively changed in the Abidjan districts of Abobo and Yopougon, where Interpeace and Indigo Côte d’Ivoire operate. The narrative around these children has become more humanized and less stigmatizing. This positive transformation is a critic...
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Analyzing the root causes of youth-led violence in West Africa and the Sahel Region

Generally analyzed through the lenses of “radicalization” or “violent extremism”, dynamics of young people engaged in new forms of violence is the focus of growing international scrutiny, especially in West Africa. However, as this interest grows, we realize that our current understanding does not allow us to fully grasp the phenomenon’s complexity. Furthermore, young people are rarely a...
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Resources

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Putting the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda into practice

Publication

13 June 2022

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Livre blanc sur l’application programmatique de l’agenda Jeunes, paix et sécurité

Publication

13 June 2022

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Geneva Peace-Cast

podcast

Nov 1 - 5, 2021

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Bonnes pratiques de collaboration pour la délimitation des territoires de villages (DTV) en Côte d’Ivoire

video

21 June 2021

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Défis à la délimitation des territoires des villages en Côte d’Ivoire – Le dialogue comme condition de réussite

video

15 June 2021

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Défis à la préservation des aires protégées et forêts classées en Côte d’Ivoire – Les conditions de la participation communautaire

video

15 June 2021

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Charte des bonnes pratiques pour une mise en œuvre apaisée et effective des processus de Délimitation des Territoires de Villages (DTV) en Côte d’Ivoire

Publication

15 June 2021

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Charte des bonnes pratiques pour une mise en œuvre apaisée et effective des processus de Préservation des aires protégées et forêts classées en Côte d’Ivoire

Publication

15 June 2021

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Défis et opportunités pour une mise en œuvre apaisée et effective du processus de préservation des forêts classées et aires protégées en Côte d’Ivoire

Publication

15 June 2021