Grants and Contributions:

Reduce Intercommunal Violence and Reinforce Social Cohesion in Burkina Faso

7434058 P010591001

$2,134,605.00

Sep 22, 2021 - Aug 31, 2023

This project seeks to reduce intercommunal violence and reinforce social cohesion in Burkina Faso’s Centre-Nord and Sahel regions. To reduce the immediate risk of violence and better protect populations, the project identifies and supports young men and women leaders from communities in conflict to develop and implement community protection plans in collaboration with formal and informal authorities and security actors. The project also seeks to operationalize the Burkinabe government’s formal conflict prevention and management structures so they can de escalate intercommunal tensions and reinforce social cohesion in cooperation with the young leaders. Project activities include: (1) creating citizen forums; (2) analyzing factors of violence, mapping risks and drafting protection plans; (3) facilitating mediation, community dialogues, participatory theatre and solidarity initiatives; (4) providing training on leadership and conflict transformation, and revitalizing conflict prevention and management observatories; and (5) supporting the implementation of the action plans. This 18 month project was developed by Search for Common Ground. The project seeks to provide immediate responses to reduce community violence and protect civilians, while helping to reinforce social cohesion and address the root causes of conflicts.

Global Affairs Canada

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) young leaders and women leaders actively collaborate with formal and informal authorities and security actors to implement inclusive, gender sensitive community-protection strategies; (2) the communities, particularly young people and various women’s groups, have greater access to resources and platforms to carry out initiatives that build trust with authorities and reinforce intra- and intercommunal cohesion; and (3) the village- and departmental-level local observatories of the Observatoire National de Prévention et de Gestion des Conflits Communautaires [national observatory for preventing and managing community conflicts] have the knowledge and support they need to carry out their community conflict prevention duties in an inclusive, gender-sensitive and effective manner.

Bamako, ML

064-2021-2022-Q2-050

Contribution

Grants and Contributions

Not-for-profit organization or charity

Search for Common Ground

Peace and Stabilization Operations

The Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) is an integral component of the Government of Canada’s toolbox to prevent and respond to conflicts and crises abroad. It supports rapid, effective, whole-of-government coordinated responses to a wide range of challenges and serves as a valuable instrument for supporting stability in conflict-affected regions. PSOPs provides visible and concrete assistance in response to conflicts and crises abroad through targeted programming, the deployment of Canadian police officers (in partnership with Public Safety Canada and the RCMP) and civilian personnel, and direct support to the UN and multilateral peace operations, conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding efforts.