In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, peace committees reduce intercommunal conflicts
An independent evaluation of the PBF-funded peacebuilding project supported by UNFPA, FAO and UNESCO found that peace committees, associated with the project, helped build peace-positive relations between Bantu and Twa communities in Tanganyika province. Provincial peace councils helped bring together community representatives alongside local authorities and the provincial government, leading to a reduction in intercommunal conflicts.
© Viktoria Von Knobloch/UN DPPA/PBSO | Joint activities such as soccer helped improve relations between Bantu and Twa youth in Tanganyika, DRC.
The province of Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered from perilous security conditions due to the absence of functioning state institutions and frequent clashes between the army, militia and other armed groups. Growing insecurity, lack of access to basic services, fierce competition over land and natural resources and high rates of unemployment have reduced trust and exacerbated inter-ethnic clashes between the Twa and Bantu communities.
Working alongside the Government, UNFPA, FAO, UNHCR and UNESCO helped address the root causes of tensions and conflict in the province by providing opportunities for economic revitalization and reintegration as well as strengthening conflict resolution mechanisms to enable peaceful cohabitation among the Twa and Bantu communities. This was carried out through three projects funded by the PBF, with a cumulative budget of $5.3 million.
© Viktoria Von Knobloch/UN DPPA/PBSO | Through their active participation in Dimitra clubs and Barazas, women have enhanced access to local socio-economic decision making.
To lay the groundwork for peaceful coexistence, mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution such as peace committees have been set up at the community, territorial and provincial levels. At the community level, the peace committees ‘Barazas’ brought together community members to resolve conflicts through dialogue and mediation. So far, 25 Peace Clubs, 50 agricultural associations that help prevent and manage conflict related to exploitation of land plots Dimitra Clubs’, three Territorial Peace Councils and one Provincial Peace Committee have been created.
UNFPA and UNESCO engaged young people in local ‘Baraza’ peace committees and equipped them with the knowledge and tools to increase their participation. Around 200 young men and women, including 87 girls, some of whom were previously part of a militia, acquired skills in conflict prevention, leadership, mediation and advocacy. Practical literacy training of more than 300 women and girls reinforced their participation in the peace clubs. For the first time, women and youth from both the Twa and Bantu communities became active members of the committees by giving opinions, influencing decision-making, and proposing solutions through mediation and dialogue. Some of these young women and men also host programs on the local radio network and are referred to by the community as ‘WA LETA AMANI’ meaning those who bring peace.
© Viktoria Von Knobloch/UN DPPA/PBSO | People from both Bantu and Twa communities work together in the agricultural cooperatives 'Dimitra' clubs.
The training helped young people feel empowered to mediate directly with provincial authorities and their aspirations and needs were taken into consideration in the reports of the Baraza and Territorial Peace Councils.
The three Territorial Peace Councils set up in Nyunzu, Kabalo and Kalemie helped resolve conflicts raised by the communities together with the involvement and participation of state institutions. To ensure better monitoring and accountability, the Provincial Peace Council includes representatives from the provincial government, local authorities and civil society to jointly discuss and prioritize the problems presented on behalf of the communities.
The independent project evaluation report mentioned earlier noted that these peace committees helped mobilize the attention and engagement of national partners. The respondents highlighted that using tools such as dialogue, and mediation promoted better living conditions between the two communities. Intercommunal conflicts decreased as a result of conflict prevention and peacebuilding activities organized by the peace committees. Strengthening the technical and human capacities of the conflict resolution mechanisms and involving the administrative authorities ensured the sustainability of the work initiated by the Fund and its implementing partners.
© Viktoria Von Knobloch/UN DPPA/PBSO | Farmers from Twa and Bantu communities gained equitable access to farming activities.
Alongside strengthening the conflict resolution mechanisms, the Fund also helped boost the economic reintegration of the communities through FAO’s training of women and youth in marketable skills and improving their livelihood and income opportunities. Around 1000 women members of Dimitra Clubs received training for revenue-generating activities such as market gardening, soap making and access to microcredits. 600 farmers were also supported through Dimitra Clubs in agricultural cooperatives, where they strengthened agricultural and herding capacities and gained equitable access to farming activities.
© Viktoria Von Knobloch/UN DPPA/PBSO | PBF-funded initiatives provide adequate access to basic services.
To further strengthen peaceful coexistence, the PBF-funded initiatives helped address the basic needs and interests of the two communities by providing adequate access to basic services. This resulted in the construction and rehabilitation of two schools, two youth and women centres, and one maternity clinic, with the support of UNHCR and UNFPA.
The newly built Mulongoy primary school in Miketo educates 515 students both from Twa and Bantu communities.
© Viktoria Von Knobloch/UN DPPA/PBSO | The soccer field behind the school is used regularly by youth from both Twa and Bantu communities.
The soccer field behind the school is used regularly by youth.
© Viktoria Von Knobloch/UN DPPA/PBSO | Health practitioners at the maternity clinic in Miketo.
The prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence inhibits the ability of women to be proactive agents of peace and narrowly confines their socio-economic development. To reduce the widespread prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence, 34 Village Protection Committees have been equipped and revitalized with support from UNHCR to train and sensitize community members on issues concerning sexual and gender-based violence. These members actively lead dialogues on the prevention of SGBV and peaceful coexistence. Around 174 SGBV survivors received legal support, of which 161 cases went to court and 128 rulings were issued, of which 91 were convicted. More than 500 women SGBV survivors and those at risk participated in a 3-month mentoring program.
© Viktoria Von Knobloch/UN DPPA/PBSO | Women at the newly constructed maternity clinic in Miketo.
Building on the accomplishments of these initiatives, the PBF has funded a new project this year ‘Setting inclusive Peacebuilding Networks in Tanganyika and addressing land issues in displaced Twa and Bantu communities.’ Further investments are planned to sustain engagement and build on the progress made. Through these interventions, the United Nations is helping lay the critical groundwork for establishing peace and peaceful coexistence in Tanganyika province - an important first step towards the long journey to sustainable peace and prosperity for the Twa and Bantu communities.
The Peacebuilding Fund has been supporting communities in Tanganyika province since 2019 with investments focused on rule of law and security, governance, recovery and reintegration. After the drawdown of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), the United Nations Country Team strengthened its engagement, accompanied by PBF-funded initiatives supporting the transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding.
