Bringing people together into dialogue, running capacity-building programmes, developing youth/empowerment empowerment and leadership, facilitating the DDR process are part of the work of peacebuilders in every conflict or post-conflict context.
Working in in a difficult context like a conflict is not easy. Local peacebuilders face all kinds of obstacles and challenges. And sometimes, peacebuilders ask themselves if their work is achieving results or is having an impact. Measuring the work of peacebuilders is a bit tricky. Most of the time, local peacebuilders don’t have indicators enabling them to measure their work effectively.
As a response to this, peacebuilders gathered in Lukenya Gateway by Peace Direct last week came up with some indicators that show the success of their work.
We can talk about peace in a given area when there is increased personal security, social relationships are enhanced, socio-economic stability and business opportunities are more widespread, communication and trust building are improved. In such context, human rights are respected or at least some improvements can be observed. There is an evident rule of law, inclusion of all communities or groups in decision-making, demobilization is successfully achieved, institutions function normally and youth and women manifest a strong interest or desire to participate in the socio-political life of the community and country as a whole.
The list is not exhaustive but has the essentials. When a local peacebuilder is seeing most of these indicators, one can say surely that the hard work of peacebuilding is having tangible results and feel encouraged to achieve more.
