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Great Lakes

The African Great Lakes region has experienced recurring cycles of violence and instability for decades. Rooted in identity politics, historical grievances, exclusion, and competition over natural resources, these conflicts have had devastating consequences, with millions of lives lost and widespread displacement across and within borders. The volatility has also undermined cross-border collaboration and cohesion, especially in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, further exacerbating fragility.

Our Work

Interpeace has been active in the Great Lakes region since 2013, supporting communities in peacebuilding efforts. Due to deeply interconnected regional conflicts, domestic tensions often spill across borders, demanding solutions that reflect both local and cross-border realities.

Our overarching goal in the Great Lakes region is to promote peace, stability, and social cohesion and to strengthen resilience and reconciliation. Working alongside local partners, our programmes engage communities, particularly women and young people, through safe spaces for inclusive dialogue and collective livelihood activities. Through intercultural and intergenerational collaborations as well as work with decision-makers, we seek to address conflict drivers, strengthen trust between communities, and enhance resilience to instability.


Our Impact


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Peace Fellows and Young Innovators trained in mediation, trauma healing, social media depolarisation, and peace-sensitive entrepreneurship
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Youth-led peace initiatives addressing conflict drivers supported across Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC
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Commitments from decision-makers to support priorities identified by young people, reflecting a shift towards the meaningful engagement of youth
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Youth-led dialogues reaching 2,000 community members implemented, enhancing intergenerational cohesion and reinforcing the role of young people as credible conveners

Our Engagements

2013
2020
2021
2026
2013 – Consultations with Great Lakes populations are launched through a Participatory Action Research project. The project identifies key drivers of conflict and strategic focus areas for a potential regional programme.

2013 – Consultations with Great Lakes populations are launched through a Participatory Action Research project. The project identifies key drivers of conflict and strategic focus areas for a potential regional programme.

2020 – The insider mediation project strengthening the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region’s (ICGLR) mediation capacities and initiatives in the region is launched. The initiative becomes an integral component of the ICGLR’s Project on Peace and Security for Stability in the Great Lakes Region and is implemented by Interpeace in partnership with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ).

2020 – The insider mediation project strengthening the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region’s (ICGLR) mediation capacities and initiatives in the region is launched. The initiative becomes an integral component of the ICGLR’s Project on Peace and Security for Stability in the Great Lakes Region and is implemented by Interpeace in partnership with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ).

2021 – The third phase of the Cross-Border Dialogue for Peace in the Great Lakes Region is launched and expanded to Uganda with a special focus on building the capacity of youth leaders in peace processes.

2021 – The third phase of the Cross-Border Dialogue for Peace in the Great Lakes Region is launched and expanded to Uganda with a special focus on building the capacity of youth leaders in peace processes.

2014 – The first phase of the Cross-Border Dialogue for Peace in the Great Lakes Region programme spanning the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi is launched. The second phase quickly follows in 2017.

2014 – The first phase of the Cross-Border Dialogue for Peace in the Great Lakes Region programme spanning the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi is launched. The second phase quickly follows in 2017.


Initiatives

Past Initiatives

Country contact Information

Resources

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