Building Peace through Climate-Resilient Resource Management in West Africa

In West Africa, cross-border conflicts have been intensified by ineffective natural resource management, compounded by climate change and other socio-economic pressures. In response to these conflict dynamics, Interpeace and its local partners have developed innovative programming that strengthens collaboration among cross-border communities in Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. These efforts aim to enhance social cohesion, promote economic development, and build resilience against climate shocks.

The regions of Sikasso in Mali and Hauts-Bassins in Burkina Faso are pivotal to the stability and prosperity of the Sahel. With rich agricultural potential, these areas serve as vital trade hubs and are often referred to as “green lungs” of their respective countries. Their abundant natural resources support millions of livelihoods but have also become points of tension in the face of governance gaps and environmental stress.

Conflict Dynamics and Climate Pressures

Research conducted by Interpeace in 2021, funded by the PATRIP Foundation, revealed three major conflict dynamics in key cross-border areas, notably between Koloko (Burkina Faso) and Finkolo (Mali), as well as between communities in the Cascades region (Burkina Faso) and the Tchologo (Côte d'Ivoire).

First, competition over land ownership and usage have escalated since agriculture remains the main income-generating activity. Farmers expand their land beyond traditional boundaries, which increases tensions over access and cultivation rights.

"The first person to cultivate a piece of land cuts down their field to go beyond the old boundaries. Then the other one comes along, realises that where he was cultivating, the boundaries are no longer the same; they have been crossed by the other. This is what leads to many quarrels," explained a local farmer from Koloko, Burkina Faso.

Second, conflicts between farmers and herders have become more frequent. Expanding farmland has reduced available grazing lands, prompting violent clashes with transhumant herders, nomadic pastoralists who seasonally migrate in search of pasture.

Third, women and youth’s exclusion from conflict management processes has limited community resilience. Despite their critical role in resource use and management, women and young people are often marginalised in decision-making structures in culturally male-dominated societies.

Climate variability, land degradation, and unsustainable land use practices aggravated by climate change – have increased competition for diminishing resources. Marked by shorter rainy seasons, scarce rainfall, frequent natural disasters, deforestation, and desertification, climate change has effectively worsened pre-existing conflict dynamics. Increased migration by transhumant herders into already fragile areas has heightened tensions, complicating agricultural planning and livestock management. The resulting pressures have triggered recurrent intra- and inter-community conflicts.

To help build lasting peace in these communities, Interpeace has implemented a three-pronged strategy: promoting participatory dialogue, supporting alternative livelihoods and investing in community infrastructure that promotes coexistence.

 Strengthening Social Cohesion Through Community Dialogue

Participatory dialogue was carried out through three main approaches. In the first project phase, Interpeace conducted community consultations in the form of inter-community and intra-community dialogues. This process created a platform to raise awareness about preventing conflicts related to natural resource exploitation.

Cross-border commissions were established, comprising community members, local authorities, and technical agents. These commissions not only serve as frameworks for inter-community integration but also function as tools for conflict prevention and management. They also serve as complaint mechanisms and facilitate peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Interpeace, in collaboration with implementing partners — Association SOS Enfants and Association Esther Vision in Burkina Faso, and Action pour le Développement de l'Initiative Locale (ADILO) in Mali — carried out awareness-raising activities through conferences and educational talks. Four civil-military dialogue frameworks were established; alongside educational talks, cross-border fairs, and community theatre performances aimed at promoting coexistence in the border areas.

These forums focused on natural resource management along the border strip. The fairs, held in both regions, attracted over four thousand participants, including community leaders, as well as administrative and political authorities. They featured traditional music, dance, and local food.

According to participants, the fairs provided an opportunity to rediscover shared values between cross-border communities.

"Today, we realise the importance of collective effort. We cannot achieve peace without working together. We understand each other better, and we continue to work together. Thanks to the programme interventions in our communities, we prioritise negotiation over confrontation and maintain open discussions," noted Zana Alassane, a member of the Zanapledougou community in Côte d'Ivoire.

The establishment of a culture of dialogue between Malian, Burkinabé, and Ivorian communities has reunited populations who, due to past tensions, had ceased socialising or participating in joint events.  

A significant decrease in tensions linked to natural resource exploitation has been reported in the past two years. Local incident reports compiling data from cross-border commissions and local authorities revealed only minor incidents in 2024, with no major conflicts over natural resources reported.

"The programme has opened our eyes. Today we know how to behave, and, above all, we are aware of the importance of working together to solve our problems," said Coulibaly Blama, a youth leader in Ouarga community, Côte d'Ivoire.

 Building Better Livelihoods to Reduce Pressure on Natural Resources

The programme also introduced alternative livelihood activities by supporting community members, particularly vulnerable youth and women, in developing environmentally friendly, climate-resilient, income-generating initiatives. This approach aimed to empower these vulnerable community members, enhance their contributions to social cohesion, and reduce dependence on the exploitation of natural resources. The activities included improved seed farming, small livestock breeding, and local product processing. Community members also learned innovative agricultural techniques that increase productivity without requiring vast land or causing land degradation. These included sedentary breeding of small ruminants, a sustainable practice that eliminates the need for transhumance tracks during the rainy season; production of soumbala (fermented locust beans), which focuses on processing local products instead of exploiting natural resources; and beekeeping, which has helped reduce reliance on traditional land exploitation as the sole income source. These practices have diversified livelihoods while promoting environmental sustainability and social cohesion.

Community-based joint processing factories, a women's poultry breeding centre, and storage warehouses have been established to foster collaboration and improve socio-economic conditions. To sustain these initiatives, community members have been trained in managing income-generating activities and financial literacy.

“Poor livelihoods caused by climate change have also been a source of conflict in our communities. This programme helped us create income-generating activities. Thanks to the training I received in the production and sale of Soumbala, I have improved my product and can meet my family’s needs. I no longer have time for quarrels with my neighbours, as I am busy with my business,” said Odette Sanou.

Investing in Shared Community Infrastructure

Complementing livelihood support, the programme has invested in essential infrastructure, such as modern community markets, renovating water wells, and dams as well as health centres, linking income-generating activities and offering joint resource sites. Drinking water supply systems have also been built to provide potable water and help reduce conflicts over water resources.

These initiatives have brought communities closer together and reduced both intra- and inter-community tensions. The infrastructure not only meets the needs of the population but also strengthens social cohesion and grassroots socio-economic development.

The experiences of Sikasso, Hauts-Bassins, and Tchologo show that strengthening participatory natural resource governance, promoting climate-resilient livelihoods, and investing in conflict-sensitive infrastructure are vital pathways to peace in fragile regions.

As climate change continues to amplify risks, there is an urgent need to scale up these approaches, support local leadership, and embed collaborative frameworks that bridge communities and authorities. Building resilience to climate stresses is not just an environmental imperative but a peacebuilding priority for West Africa and beyond.

 

The role of research in building and strengthening resilience

Building and strengthening resilience in any country or society requires research-based interventions that drive real change. This resonates best in Rwanda, a country that experienced the most horrible crimes of the Genocide against the Tutsi three decades ago.

In June 2024, Interpeace partnered with Resilio - International Association for the Promotion and Dissemination of Resilience Research, the University of Rwanda, the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement, and local peacebuilding organizations to organise the 6th World Congress on Resilience, held in Kigali, Rwanda.

Themed “Resilience and Trauma: Conceptual Development, Challenges, and Perspectives,” this international gathering brought together more than 350 participants, including researchers, practitioners, academics, university students, peacebuilders, as well as policymakers from across the globe who are involved in the field of trauma healing and resilience.

Featuring scientific papers and oral presentations, poster sessions with presentations from researchers, video screenings, as well as panel discussions, the congress provided participants with the opportunity to deepen their discussions on the role of research in fostering trauma healing, strengthening resilience, and peacebuilding.

In joint opening remarks, the Chair of Resilio, Prof. Eugene Rutembesa, and Co-chair, Prof. Colette Jourdan-Ionescu, stressed the importance of organizing the congress in Rwanda, which is located in Africa’s Great Lakes region that has been experiencing violent armed conflicts and insecurity for decades.

“This congress will allow researchers from around the world, especially those from the Great Lakes region, which has been experiencing protracted political and ethnic violence, to better understand and discuss the ability to resist destruction, to preserve integrity, and to build the resilience of those people undergoing extreme suffering.”

Speaking as a Guest of Honor, Jean Damascene Bizimana, Rwanda’s Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), underscored the level of resilience Rwanda has achieved 30 years after the Genocide against the Tutsi and commended the role of research in that journey. He also recognised that the discussions and deliberations of the congress would enable concerned actors to continue developing evidence-based programming.

“This event testifies to the importance of research and multi-stakeholder collaboration to help us further our understanding of resilience. It will also help all stakeholders across the globe to develop fact-based initiatives to continue strengthening the resilience of populations at all levels.”

The 6th World Congress on Resilience was an opportune occasion for Interpeace to showcase its work and holistic approach that have significantly contributed to strengthening the resilience of Rwandans.

Evidence-generation to strengthen resilience

At the world congress, Interpeace presented the findings of the resilience assessment framework titled: “A Community-Based Participatory Framework for the Assessment of Resilience in Rwanda,” conducted in collaboration with MINUBUMWE. Involving a significant sample of 7,481 individuals, the study evaluated resilience across four levels—individual, household, community, and institutional—using a comprehensive set of 38 indicators.

The findings underscored a commendable degree of resilience across all assessed levels, demonstrating a significant milestone three decades after the Genocide against the Tutsi. The study recommended the need for intensified efforts in societal healing initiatives to sustain the gain in healing and resilience. The Framework for the Assessment of Resilience stands as a landmark initiative and a foundational reference for future studies in the field of resilience within the country.

Interpeace also presented the findings of its Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) conducted to assess the effectiveness of its two interventions, namely Resilience-Oriented Therapy and Multifamily Healing Spaces, both of which are being implemented in the community to strengthen resilience at the individual and family levels, respectively.

Findings revealed that Multifamily Healing Spaces are effective in addressing the intergenerational transmission of genocide legacies, resolving intra- and inter-family conflicts, promoting positive parenting, and improving family communication and cohesiveness.

Resilience-oriented therapy has been proven effective for emotional regulation, behavioral self-management, and identity development. The results indicated an increase in psychological resilience by 15%, a decrease in depression by 64%, and a decrease in anxiety by 53% among the Resilience-oriented therapy treatment cohort. Implemented at the Health Centre level, the approach helps to address cultural barriers associated with the one-on-one approach usually implemented across the country and makes mental health services more accessible to more people in need.

Minister Bizimana commended the group-based approaches in building the capacity of individuals for resilience. “The Resilience-oriented therapy has proven to be particularly effective. Findings are not only commendable but also serve as a model for other communities around the world’” stated Hon. Bizimana.

In Rwanda, Interpeace and its local partners implement a holistic approach to peacebuilding and resilience strengthening. Watch the video below to further understand the unique and innovative approach that has driven positive change in societal healing in Rwanda.

Societal Healing Programme in Rwanda - Brochure

 


In Rwanda, Interpeace collaborates with the government and non-governmental actors to implement a comprehensive societal healing initiative that encompasses mental health and psychosocial support, social cohesion, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners, while also promoting collaborative livelihoods. This program addresses the latent psychological scars left by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including the heightened prevalence of mental health disorders as identified in the Rwanda Mental Health Survey (2018). This brochure provides an overview of the programme’s interventions and methodologies, as well as the significant impact they are generating at the individual, community, and national levels.

A Community-based Participatory Framework for the Assessment of Resilience in Rwanda

Three decades after the Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda continues to navigate the complexities of rebuilding the social fabric and strengthen resilience of its population. The Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), in collaboration with Interpeace has released a new research titled: A Community-based Participatory Framework for the Assessment of Resilience in Rwanda. The objective of this study, conducted across all 30 districts of Rwanda, was fourfold. Firstly, it aimed to formulate and validate resilience indicators for structuring future research activities, policies, and programmes related to community resilience in Rwanda. Secondly, it sought to devise a participatory, multi-level methodology for assessing resilience indicators, drawing from existing frameworks, while tailoring them to Rwanda's specific context. Additionally, the study aimed to establish a baseline for community resilience across all districts of Rwanda and to propose actionable policy and programmatic recommendations for enhancing resilience nationwide.

Involving a significant sample of 7,481 individuals, the study adopted a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative methods. Resilience was evaluated across four levels—individual, household, community, and institutional—using a comprehensive set of 38 indicators.

The findings underscored a commendable degree of resilience across all assessed levels, demonstrating a significant milestone three decades after the Genocide against the Tutsi. Recommendations emphasised the need for intensified efforts in societal healing initiatives, infrastructure development, and facilitating access to finance and employment opportunities.

Read the Executive Summary here.

Rwanda: new findings and protocols to improve mental health and social cohesion

Studies show a high prevalence of mental health disorders in Rwanda. This imprint of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi has made reconciliation and societal healing difficult. During a hybrid conference in the capital Kigali, on 2 September 2021, Interpeace and partners presented findings from baseline research carried out on mental health and societal healing in Bugesera District.

The conference was organised by Interpeace, in partnership with the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC) and Prison Fellowship Rwanda (PFR). It was supported by the European Union (EU) through its embassy in Rwanda.

During the event, participants also discussed the development of several protocols, informed by this baseline survey, to assess ongoing efforts and intervene on issues related to mental health, social cohesion, and sustainable livelihoods in Rwanda.

Since the genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda has gone through 27 years of sustained development and growth. However, the country continues to grapple with significant mental health challenges. A considerable  proportion of the Rwandan population lives with trauma linked to the genocide against the Tutsi.

“My mother is always lonely. When I ask her a question about what happened during the genocide, she immediately goes to the room and cries, and I feel sad because there is nothing I can do to help her feel better,” said one participant of the baseline study.

This is exacerbated by psychological and socioeconomic distress which have contributed to disrupt social cohesion. These prevailing mental health conditions have made it difficult to rebuild trust and reconcile people in Rwanda.

“Bugesera has suffered a lot from the genocide against the Tutsi. Traumatised people have difficulties to forgive and trust each other, and to embrace development and sustainable livelihoods,” said Richard Mutabazi, Mayor of Bugesera District.

However, the government of Rwanda and local civil society organisations have already made significant investment and progress towards trauma healing, social cohesion and improving livelihoods. To support these ongoing efforts, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, Prison Fellowship Rwanda and Interpeace started implementing the pilot phase of a societal healing programme in Bugesera District, which was the hardest hit by the genocide against the Tutsi. This baseline study on mental health and societal healing was part of this programme, launched in October 2020.

“We wanted to assess the current state of communities in Bugesera District, in relation to mental health, social cohesion and collaborative livelihoods, and then use the data as a basis to develop intervention protocols for the district and beyond,” explained Frank Kayitare, Interpeace Rwanda and Great Lakes Representative. He added: “We have gained invaluable input from government and non-governmental organisations. These inputs have made our programme more responsive; allowing for a potentially more resilient outcome.”

The presentation of this study’s results at the conference, on 2 September, marked the completion of the first stage of this pilot programme, known as ‘’Reinforcing community capacity for social cohesion and reconciliation through societal trauma healing in Bugesera District’’.

“We are very happy to see this project come to fruition after multiple discussions that started on this very important topic between Interpeace, the government, the EU and other partners over a year ago,” said H.E Nicola Bellomo, EU Ambassador in Rwanda.

The mental health challenge in Rwanda is multidimensional. Lack of remorse and forgiveness, impunity, and poverty were all cited in the research as factors that underlie mistrust between social groups. Another important aspect revealed by the study was the challenge to successful reintegration of convicted genocide perpetrators who have completed their prison term. Specifically, it was found that reintegration is very often an extremely challenging experience, for the former perpetrators but also for the communities receiving them. Issues of social stigma, rejection by the family, and inability to sustain livelihoods were most frequently reported among released ex-prisoners. These social challenges faced by ex-prisoners compound problems caused by a long period of incarceration, which include loss of social and professional identity, erosion of family relationships and emotional expression, and loss of hope in the future.

“Challenges at community level are not only one-dimensional and require collaborative effort. What is happening in Rwanda is a ground-breaking and shining example. We should think of scalability of these initiatives for a better outcome,”, said Dr Theo Hollander, Senior Regional Representative for Eastern and Central Africa at Interpeace.

In terms of livelihoods, the baseline survey revealed evidence of economic hardship. People struggle to survive as well as they can in adverse circumstances. A key challenge that emerged from the study is low agricultural production contributing to food insecurity. Reliance on rain-fed farming, insufficient access to irrigable land, limited use of fertilizers, and limited ownership of livestock, all contribute to this challenge. Residents inevitably rely on markets to supplement their food supplies, which in turn pushes young people into menial labour roles in order to generate the required cashflow, reducing their availability to participate in education and training. Vocational skills were found to be lacking in the district, with the vast majority of respondents reporting that their only vocational skill is farming with basic tools.

“Our goal in Rwanda is to develop comprehensive interventions, blend Rwandan home-grown solutions with international best practices and utilize multiple types of evidence to improve mental health,” said Ntwali Jean Paul, Deputy Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Rwanda.

The study additionally assessed gender and youth perspectives and dynamics in terms of mental health, family relations, prisoner reintegration, and livelihoods. The study found that women in Bugesera district were deeply affected by the genocide, through various direct and indirect pathways. Regarding mental health, the study found that more women than men reported problems with anxiety and depression. With respect to the inter-generational transmission of genocide legacies, the study identified two major challenges for young people; the first is growing up in a family in which the parents suffer from extensive psychosocial issues due to their traumatic experiences, to the extent that it undermines their capacity as parents. The second is the difficulty for parents to discuss events and experiences that often cause their children to feel confused, angry, or insecure.

“Mental health is crucial to advance social cohesion in Rwanda. Teams from Interpeace Rwanda, the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, the Ministry of Health and Prison Fellowship Rwanda have been supporting Rwandans and the government to address these mental health challenges and trauma and we are committed to do more with our partners,” said Scott Weber, President of Interpeace.

The results of the baseline survey have informed the development of several new protocols for assessment and intervention, which will guide further efforts related to mental health, social cohesion, and sustainable livelihoods in Rwanda. The set of protocols included a holistic mental health and psychosocial care intervention combining Rwandan home-grown solutions with international best practices. Specifically, the screening protocols aimed to assess the community population and assign participants in interventions, based on their individualized needs. Among other developed protocols, there is a resilience-oriented therapy protocol and socioemotional skills curriculum for mental health care; multi-family healing space and adaptations on the sociotherapy protocols for social cohesion; prisoners’ risk and resilience assessment and prisoners’ rehabilitation protocols and reintegration roadmap; as well as collaborative livelihoods protocol to guide the community-based enterprises development.

Please follow this link and listen to the conference recording: https://spoti.fi/3zOnMod

Our societal healing programme in Rwanda enhances capacities of communities through an innovative and holistic approach to expand investment in mental health, address trauma and advance social cohesion. The programme is funded by the EU through its instrument contributing to stability and peace (IcSP).

Côte d’Ivoire : la jeunesse mobilisée contre la violence politique

La Côte d’Ivoire est entrée en 2020 dans un nouveau cycle électoral marqué par des confrontations intra- et intercommunautaires. Alors que les trois quarts de la population ont moins de 35 ans, les jeunes sont souvent stigmatisés et perçus comme étant responsables ou associés à de la violence politique. Pour changer cette vision et contribuer à la mise en œuvre de l’agenda Jeunes, paix et sécurité, Interpeace et son partenaire Indigo Côte d’Ivoire ont lancé un projet visant à améliorer leur participation en tant qu’acteurs et leaders dans la consolidation de la paix et la prévention des violences politiques. Le Livre blanc rassemblant les résultats et bonnes pratiques tirées de cette action a été présenté le 7 septembre 2021 à Abidjan.

En période électorale, un marketing politique polarisant et manipulateur des identités est fréquemment employé par les acteurs politiques ivoiriens de tous bords pour mobiliser leurs électeurs. Cela génère des tensions entre groupes ethniques et religieux, et entretient un climat de défiance et de contestation des résultats électoraux qui peuvent dégénérer en violences intercommunautaires. En 2020, près de 80 personnes ont ainsi trouvé la mort à travers le pays dans des affrontements liés aux élections présidentielles. La participation des jeunes à ces conflits est souvent montrée du doigt par les acteurs locaux, nationaux et internationaux, qui les désignent comme des acteurs « à risque » vulnérables et facilement manipulables. Ces discours ont pour effet de stigmatiser et marginaliser la majorité silencieuse des jeunes hommes et femmes qui restent en dehors des processus de violence, et de déprécier les efforts de celles et ceux qui s’engagent activement au quotidien pour la paix et la cohésion sociale.

C’est également le constat fait par la résolution historique 2250 du Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies en 2015, qui appelait tous les acteurs concernés à augmenter la représentation et la participation inclusive, effective et réelle des jeunes dans les efforts de consolidation de la paix. C’est dans cet esprit qu’a été conçu le projet « YPS en pratique : auto-analyse et renforcement du leadership des jeunes dans la prévention de la violence politique en Côte d’Ivoire », une action de consolidation de la paix dont les jeunes n’étaient pas les bénéficiaires mais les protagonistes à part entière. En choisissant de sélectionner et d’accompagner des initiatives de jeunes agissant déjà pour la paix et la cohésion sociale, Interpeace et Indigo Côte d’Ivoire ont fait le pari de miser sur la résilience et l’engagement citoyen de ces personnes dans deux quartiers réputés sensibles d’Abidjan, Yopougon et Abobo.

« En Côte d’Ivoire, plusieurs associations de jeunes et de femmes œuvrent activement pour la promotion de la cohésion sociale à travers des initiatives. Cependant, l’implication de cette jeunesse dans les violences électorales et les conflits intercommunautaires, ainsi que la jeunesse radicalisée perpétue une image négative des jeunes », dit Bakary Sidibe, conseiller technique du ministre de la Promotion de la jeunesse, de l'insertion professionnelle et du service civique. « Pour changer ce paradigme et impliquer les jeunes dans les actions de paix et de sécurité, il apparaît nécessaire de guider cette jeunesse et renforcer ses capacités à la mise en œuvre de projets de consolidation de la paix ».

Dans le cadre du projet « YPS en pratique »,  une quarantaine de jeunes leaders œuvrant déjà pour la paix et la cohésion sociale dans leurs quartiers ont été sélectionnés. Après des séances de renforcement de capacités en analyse de conflit et gestion de projets, les jeunes hommes et femmes accompagnés par Indigo Côte d’Ivoire et Interpeace ont conçu et mis en œuvre leurs propres projets de consolidation de la paix et de prévention de la violence électorale à Abobo et Yopougon. Les résultats et bonnes pratiques à répliquer pour mettre les jeunes « au volant » des actions de paix et sécurité ont été rassemblés dans un Livre blanc. Celui-ci a été présenté le 7 septembre à Abidjan devant des représentants de ministères, municipalités, agences des Nations Unies, ambassades, ONG nationales et internationales et autres partenaires techniques et financiers.

En accompagnant ces jeunes, le projet a testé des moyens et outils pour améliorer leur esprit d’analyse, leur stratégie, leur impact et leur collaboration. Lors de l’événement, les participants ont partagé leurs impressions sur les résultats du projet.

"Avant l'arrivée d’Indigo, j’étais membre d'une ONG mais je ne me suis jamais dit que j’allais m’engager devant des gens ou être responsable d’un mouvement. Aujourd’hui, avec toutes les formations, je suis la coordonnatrice d’une plateforme de 40 initiatives au niveau de Yopougon", a dit Kiteni, de l’organisation de l’association des jeunes Tchêlê Woyê.

Ils ont également présenté le travail qu’ils menaient dans leurs communautés. Des jeunes femmes ont formé des ambassadeurs de paix, dont la mission était de sensibiliser leur entourage à la bonne entente entre communautés et d’alerter en cas d’incidents pour permettre la prévention des violences par le dialogue ou la mobilisation des autorités. Une autre initiative a formé des jeunes à la vérification des informations circulant sur les réseaux sociaux pour endiguer le phénomène des rumeurs et fausses nouvelles qui concourent à un climat de tensions et de violence. D’autres ont travaillé à rapprocher des personnes issues de secteurs, religions ou ethnies différents qui ne se fréquentaient pas ou étaient en conflit, à travers des dialogues et des activités d’intérêt général.

« Notre projet a associé toutes les parties prenantes [à un conflit opposant deux quartiers depuis la dernière crise socio-politique]. On a trouvé des solutions pour metre en place un climat paisible. Les populations ont donné elles-mêmes les solutions. Nous avons organsié un match de foot avec deux équipes mixtes des deux quartiers. Les équipes étaient mélangées et il n’y a pas eu de palabre [dispute] à la fin. » a dit Mariama, de l’initiative Jeunesse Unie pour le Développement.

Tous ont ouvert des espaces de discussion permettant aux personnes consultées de parler de leurs perceptions de la paix et de la sécurité dans le quartier, des traumatismes subis pendant les dernières crises, de l’état des relations avec les groupes opposés. Ces espaces de discussion ont souvent permis de réunir et créer un dialogue entre des groupes de personnes qui ne se parlaient jamais bien qu’habitant au même endroit. En adressant les divisions sociopolitiques, religieuses et ethniques dans leurs quartiers, les jeunes leaders ont également participé à la prévention des violence électorales qui pourraient survenir lors de prochaines échéances électorales.

"Lors du phénomènre de circulation des fausses nouvelles, au lieu de bruler les marchandises des Haoussas, [les participants de notre projet] les ont protégés des agressions dans le quartier. " raconte Kiteni, de l’organisation de l’association des jeunes Tchêlê Woyê, en référence à un épisode de violence intercommunautaire survenu le 5 mai à Abobo et Yopougon après la diffusion d’une fausse vidéo. Cette dernière prétendait montrer des Nigériens s’attaquant à leurs voisins Ivoiriens et incitait les habitants d’Abidjan à se venger.

Grâce au projet YPS, les initiatives ont pu prendre conscience du rôle qu’elles avaient à jouer pour la paix, renforcer leurs capacités pour concevoir et mettre en œuvres des actions stratégiques et inclusives, et les communiquer à des décideurs locaux, nationaux et internationaux. A travers toutes ces actions, ces jeunes leaders ont montré que la jeunesse a la capacité d’agir pour la paix et la sécurité.

Citant l’ancien président américain John F. Kennedy, Jean-Luc, membre de l’association Young Ivoirian Promoters of English a ainsi conclu la présentation des résultats du projet en disant : « Ne vous demandez pas ce que votre pays peut faire pour vous, mais demandez-vous ce que vous pouvez faire pour votre pays ».

En Côte d’Ivoire comme ailleurs, les jeunes ont  la volonté et le potentiel pour contribuer à la paix et stabilité dans leur pays. Il revient au grand public, aux acteurs nationaux et internationaux de reconnaître leur rôle important dans la construction de la paix durable et de leur donner des outils de participation dans la prise de décisions politiques et sécuritaires.