Fostering peaceful communities: What role can philanthropy play?
Local peacebuilders are the backbone of lasting peace in communities, and supporting their welfare and efforts is essential. This core message emerged strongly from a session held at the 5th African Philanthropy Conference in July 2024, which inspired this paper.
The nature of local peacebuilding varies significantly based on context. It can involve addressing youth unemployment, rebuilding infrastructure, or combating food insecurity, amongst other challenges. Philanthropic support must, therefore, embrace this complexity, honour local peacebuilders’ perspectives, and recognize their central role in cultivating conflict-free communities. One session participant noted, “Supporting this work means starting where communities are.”
This support requires a shift in approach:
- Providing accompaniment to local peacebuilders rather than funding projects.
- Creating spaces for local peacebuilders to share their stories and experiences.
- Investing in their well-being and care, acknowledging their work’s emotional and physical toll.
- Breaking down thematic divides that artificially compartmentalize their efforts.
- Rethinking how funders listen to, and engage with, communities and how they assess impact.
Published by: African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), African Youth Action Network (AYAN), Coalition for Action on 1325 (CoACT), Philanthropy for Social Justice and Peace (PSJP) and the Unyoke Foundation.
Published: December 2024
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