From February 2018 to December 2019, Search for Common Ground implemented the project “Support Women Leaders of Today and Tomorrow to Advance Peace in Burundi”, financed by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF). The overall objective of this project was to “promote the role of women in peacebuilding and conflict transformation at the community level” and “increase the participation of young people in civic and social life.”
The project was implemented in collaboration with Dushirehamwe, Association of Repatriated Women of Burundi (AFRABU), Association for the Promotion of Burundian Girls (APFB), Network of Youth in Action Organizations (REJA), Collective for the Promotion of Youth Associations (CPAJ), Association of Women Journalists of Burundi (AFJO), Jimbere Magazine, and the Iwacu newspaper.
The evaluation found that the wide range of project activities (for instance leadership and peacebuilding training, coaching between adult and young women, round tables, media programmes) ensured that the perception of communities on the importance of the role of women in peacebuilding was positively transformed, the leadership of women in conflict transformation and reconciliation initiatives was increased and the credibility and effectiveness of women as actors in peacebuilding processes at the local level was improved.
The evaluation recommended that emphasis should be placed on sensitising men, young people and women to better develop concepts of positive masculinity and complementarity between men and women for peace initiatives. Further, the (economic) empowerment of women and youth is key to guarantee the sustainability of peace initiatives and should be included in future programming.
