Côte d'Ivoire

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) started its operations in Côte d’Ivoire during mid-2005 when it opened offices and studios in both Abidjan and Daloa. SFCG’s primary goal for Côte d’Ivoire is to reduce tensions among communities and groups, to facilitate reconciliation, and to strengthen social cohesion. SFCG works towards two main objectives in support of this goal:

• To strengthen local capacity to transform conflict non-violently; and

• To enhance social dialogue on key issues and constructive cooperation at the community level.

SFCG’s unique two-pronged approach to peacebuilding couples media work with community outreach, including local capacity building, networking, and dialogue. This approach directly addresses some of the key problems in Côte d’Ivoire: the politicization of social dialogue, the marginalization of moderate voices, deepening ethnic, political, and regional cleavages, and the preponderance of misinformation and rumors. SFCG's programmes extend into the north, west, southeast, and central regions of the country, focusing on locations with high intercommunity tensions or that are at risk for violent conflict. Target populations include community members, local authorities, IDPs (internally displaced persons), youth, and women. As with all of SFCG’s programmes, activities are implemented and tailored to the needs of the local community.

Media Sector Capacity Building

Radio has proven to be an extremely effective method in promoting peace-building in all of SFCG’s programmes in Africa, as it promotes positive changes in attitudes and behaviors and reaches a large number of people, including illiterate and under-educated populations. Local personnel trained in ‘Common Ground’ methodology and production techniques staff both studios, which operate under the name of Talking Drum Studio, leveraging the reputation already developed by SFCG’s other programs in the sub-region. In order to extend the reach of its radio programs, SFCG has developed working partnerships with 22 radio stations including ONUCI FM, providing coverage to entire country. With a sound network of partners and the production capabilities afforded by its two studios, SFCG is well placed to achieve its program objectives.

In collaboration with local partners the national programme for community reinsertion and rehabilitation, SFCG has developed a communication campaign focused on tolerance, reconciliation, and the RRR process. The campaign prepares communities to be more receptive to and become more involved in SFCG’s conflict transformation trainings and facilitated dialogues.

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Women's Leadership

Women of all backgrounds are amongst some of the hardest-hit casualties of the Ivorian conflict and its diverse rhetoric built upon political parties, ethnic groups, and geographic regions. Of particular concern, sexual violence affects Ivorian women across the political and ethnic spectrum. As both feuding sides vouch to acquiesce to peace, a window of opportunity opens up for Ivorian women to mobilize around their common agenda and secure an active role in the country’s shifting socio-political structure, infusing their interests into the national dialogue.

To achieve this potential, Search for Common Ground launched a program entitled Mobilizing Ivorian Women for Constructive Participation in Governance and Leadership. Through trainings, workshops, and the radio program Dignité des Femmes, SFCG aims to provide accurate information to women on governance and leadership issues, and to facilitate dialogue and exchange between women from the North and South on issues related to good governance and leadership.

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Resolving Community Level Conflict

SFCG's outreach program aims to promote dialogue at the community level and strengthen local peace actors' ability to analyse, manage, and mediate conflict. Capacity-building activities target community members, partner organization personnel, and staff of local radio stations and include training workshops, dialogues, and solidarity events.

SFCG's community level activities seek to empower Ivorians to be in charge of the mediation of conflict. To reinforce the local capacity for peace building, Search for Common Ground provides training and mentoring for local peace activists helping them effectively intervene in community conflicts. Conflict transformation trainings target individuals who are in positions of influence and who have conflict mitigation roles in their communities.

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