Democratic Republic of Congo

Conflict Sensitive Development

SFCG is pioneering a new approach that ensures that stabilization/development work is conflict sensitive. Drawing on our expertise in conflict transformation, SFCG accompanies stabilization and development projects, uncovering and addressing conflicts that disrupt social cohesion, helping partner NGOs to be more conflict-sensitive, and improving the capacity of local communities to resolve conflicts. Currently, SFCG contributes to conflict sensitivity in the UNICEF funded "Program of Expanded Assistance to Returnees Plus" in eastern DRC, and a project "Building Civil Society Capacity to Promote Conflict Transformation in the Uélé Districts" funded by the National Endowment for Democracy. The work involves conducting the following activities among others: conflict analysis, training of NGO workers, training of local leaders and organizations, as well as direct conflict mediation.

• Conflict analysis
  SFCG has developed an innovative approach to conflict analysis that helps give a full overview of the conflict dynamics, and the community and ethnic relations in a given area. Via focus groups, interviews, and enlisting local citizens to conduct research, we produce studies that can be used at the beginning of a project in order to re-shape the program according to the conflicts found locally. Bi or trimonthly "conflict scans" help the partner NGOs have a better understanding of the evolution of the conflicts while the project is underway.

   

  We have recently, in conjunction with UNICEF, completed a Survey on Education and Conflicts in 4 DRC Provinces (Maniema, Orientale, Equateur, and North Katanga) Click here to read it.

  
  

   

  We have recently completed two baseline studies in this area:
  Cohésion sociale et Dynamique des Conflits (RUBAYA) / Social cohesion and conflict dynamics (RUBAYA)
  Rubaya is an important mining area in Masisi Territory in Eastern DRC. In June of 2012, SFCG conducted a study of the social cohesion, and the conflict and power dynamics of the area. This study was solicited by United Nations agencies and presented to them, in order to help shape a future intervention in the area by UNDP, UNICEF, and WFP.
  Français

  Etude d’audience de programmes SFCG et ses radios partenaires au Nord et Sud Kivu / Study of SFCG radio program and radio partner listeners in North and South Kivu
  In March of 2012, SFCG conducted the following study for a project financed by the United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). The study measured the level of awareness that people in mining zones had of mineral traceability and conflict minerals.
  Français

• Trainings for project partners on "Do no harm" principles
  Project partners who work on providing social services benefit enormously from trainings on "Do no harm" principles. We teach them how to analyze and resolve conflicts, and also relate the importance of appreciating local contexts and not aggravating existing tensions via their interventions.

• Trainings for community leaders on conflict resolution
  One of SFCG's central principles is to work with local communities, and to empower voices that call for peace and cooperation. Our trainings with community leaders and organizations do just that. They learn how to analyze and understand the various positions in a conflict, and are equipped with techniques and approaches for finding peaceful solutions to them.

• Conflict mediation
  At times, SFCG is required to come in and conduct mediations ourselves. Most commonly, we have employed our experience in conflict resolution to resolve disputes between those that have benefitted from development aid and those that have not, and have also calmed dangerous tensions between different communities, and between soldiers and civilians.