A monthly selection of the best new research and resources on local peacebuilding worldwide, as chosen by Insight on Conflict. This month's edition features articles on dispute resolution in Afghanistan, DDR in the Great lakes and more. To receive the email newsletter each month, please sign-up here or email joel@insightonconflict.org.

Make room for peace

This paper from Kvinna til Kivanna (pdf) looks at how participation by women peacebuilders and civil society organisations in peace processes and negotiations can be supported. It is intended to act as a manual for policymakers and practitioners.

Security promotion seen from below: experiences from South Sudan

'Security promotion seen from below (pdf)' is the latest in a series of reports from the Peace, Security & Development Network, looking at the relationship between community security and community DDR in fragile states. This report focuses on the experiences of South Sudan.

Designing a comprehensive peace process for Afghanistan

What needs to be done to build comprehensive peace process in Afghanistan? This paper from USIP aims to answer that question. The report argues that key to the success of any peace agreement is support from a wide range of stakeholders. The report maintains that current negotiations are too narrow and exclude many.

Grounding the responsibility to protect: working with local strengths for peace and conflict prevention in the Solomon Islands

'Grounding the responsibility to protect' (pdf) examines local peacebuilders and the principle of the responsibly to protect. Using the conflict in the Solomon Islands as a case study, the paper asks if by working more closely with non-state actors the responsibility to protect could be strengthened.

Contributing evidence to programming: Armed Violence Monitoring Systems

This report from UNDP (pdf) looks into Armed Violence Monitoring Systems (AVMS). It provides an overview of the current state of the field, looks at experiences of practitioners and how AVMS can be used for providing indicators and evidence for programmes.

Governance and conflict indicators report

This paper (pdf) from ITAD gives a summary of a DfID-commissioned piece of work on developing a set of governance and conflict indicators. The report explains the methodology behind the research and provides a list of suggested indicators.

Collapsing ‘Government’, Emerging ‘Governances’

This short policy brief from Microcon argues that the collapse of government doesn't necessarily lead to a lack of governance. In such cases supporting civil society organisations plays an important role.

From the Blog

  • Anna Hazare is leading a nationwide non-violent crusade for social and political change against corruption in India. Read more >>>
  • In June 2011 Jo Tyabji visited DR Congo to gain more insight into the role of international and local organisations in the DR Congo conflict. Read more >>>
  • An interview with the founders of Sisi Ni Amani, a 'peacemapping' initiative in Kenya Read more >>>
  • How to apply a model developed for gang-involved young people in Chicago to inter-tribal and militia violence in Kenya. Read more >>>
  • The Gatumba massacre in Burundi has heightend fears of renewed civil war. How the latest violence is dealt with is crucial to peace and justice there. Read more >>>
  • Zahid Shahab Ahmed interviews Sabiha Shaheen, Executive Director of Bargad, a leading youth-led peacebuilding organisation based in Pakistan. Read more >>>
  • The Ugandan war crimes trial for LRA commander Thomas Kwoyelo has been halted. What is the significance of the decision and what has been the reaction of civil society? Read more >>>