#4

Too often, global peacebuilding initiatives are driven by external agendas and priorities. These external voices sideline local peacebuilders, especially women and people in marginalised communities. We must decolonise the role of global actors in peacebuilding.

This involves recognising and challenging historical power imbalances, and prioritising local knowledge and leadership in shaping peacebuilding agendas, policies, strategies and programme design. The creation, design and delivery of investments and policies must be to peacebuilding.

We call on international institutions, Global North governments and NGOs to:

• Prioritise existing Indigenous and local solutions by assessing ongoing efforts at the local level, and the needs and capacities of all communities, before introducing external solutions. This must be done in a way that embraces and recognises the diversity and intersectionality of local peacebuilders.
• Rethink the traditional and often neo-colonial methods of working with local communities by avoiding the “empowerment” and “capacity-building” approaches. Local capacities don’t need to be built, but recognised and encouraged.
• Incorporate traditional institutions such as elders’ councils in all conflict resolution and community cohesion efforts. Encourage platforms for intergenerational dialogue and storytelling to showcase the contributions of young peacebuilders.
• Invest in your own analysis, time and institutional knowledge to understand the multiple factors at play in the conflict at hand, the dimensions of its triggers, and its impact on community members. Incorporate this into all relevant strategies, agendas, policies and programme design.

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