Strengthening Collaboration and Relationships between and among Youth, Community, Leaders, and Security Actors in Mtwara
Recently, Tanzania has been experiencing a series of violent attacks, and seen movements of violent extremist (VE) groups crossing over the borders. Specifically, Mtwara has become a critical area for engagement. To strengthen the capacity of communities in Mtwara so as to reduce the threat of VE, Search has been implementing a program supported by the US Department of State in the Mtwara and Ruvuma regions. The overall goal of this project is to strengthen linkages between youth, community leaders, and security actors to work toward a collaborative response to prevent recruitment into VE groups in at-risk communities. The key project activities such as peer-to-peer mentoring, learning exchange forums, and positive narrative campaigns aim to achieve the project’s objectives (1) ensure youth, civilian security agents, and other key community stakeholders have increased understanding of community needs and vulnerabilities regarding VE, and (2) to provide concrete PVE communication channels and community engagement opportunities for youth, community leaders, and security actors to jointly address security issues across the region. Search utilized the signature Common Ground Approach training to overcome challenges like fostering inclusive dialogue, and promoted social media to introduce entertaining, non-threatening ways to positively engage the youth, their families, and communities at risk of radicalization in the community-led discussions. Moreover, Search created community-led structures that are connected with the government and law enforcement to ensure the project sustainably transforms the community.
Youth and Police Support Activities in Tanzania in Mtwara and Tandahimba
Search for Common Ground, with support from the Swiss Confederation, implemented programming in Mtwara and Tandahimba, in coordination with the Dodoma Inspector General of Police, to improve relationships between security forces and communities, particularly the youth. The project aimed to support continued youth engagement in peace and security initiatives in Tanzania, through a variety of activities, including a design workshop for youth champions, support to youth-led initiatives, police dialogues and radio programming. This project complemented and built on Search’s ongoing efforts to transform VE related dynamics in Mtwara, with support from the US Embassy in Tanzania. Search successfully overcame initial challenges with police cooperation in order to implement the activities. Once trust was established, the project improved the situation of Mtwara region in terms of both adopting preventative measures and in collaborating. Radio programs contributed to raising awareness and knowledge-building, reaching hundreds of people. Furthermore, activities, like the youth-led initiatives led to investments in the community from organizations outside of Search. Because the project empowered community members and strengthened their collaboration, it created communal ownership. This, combined with the success of activities leading to external funding, is likely to contribute to a sustainable conflict transformation.
Countering Violent Extremism Community Resiliency in the Western Border/Kigoma
Tanzania’s western border, particularly in the Kigoma region, has seen a number of VE militant attacks. These have created political, social, and economic instability in Kigoma and marginalized communities feel even more vulnerable. In 2022, Search for Common Ground initiated a project funded by the US Embassy in Tanzania with the overall goal to foster improved understanding and communication channels to support community residence to violent extremism by way of (1) increasing knowledge and understanding of VE dynamics, drivers, threats and opportunities in Kigoma, and (2) increasing collaboration among community members, government, and security actors around addressing VE in target communities. This is supported through activities like resiliency training, town hall meetings, radio programming, and the creation of Whatsapp Groups to spread information.
Uchaguzi Bila Zogo: Supporting Post-Election Dialogue and Reconciliation
The project’s overall goal was to strengthen inclusive post-election dialogue and reconciliation efforts in Zanzibar. This goal was supported by the project’s objective to improve the integration of high-level political actors into community-level post-election dialogue and reconciliation efforts. This was successfully achieved as can be seen in the Outcome Mapping Report, which convened project stakeholders to discuss the outcomes of project activities.
Most notably, the project facilitated its goal of dialogue through bringing together individuals from differing political parties and utilizing technical working groups, which ultimately led to interaction with influential stakeholders and sustainable change.
The project brought together rival political parties in Zanzibar, allowing them to engage in dialogue and address election-related issues—an uncommon occurrence in the region. This facilitated the identification of conflict drivers and effective solutions. Participants from smaller political parties felt proud to be included and believed that their voices were heard.
The Technical Working Groups (TWGs) facilitated dialogue and addressed electoral grievances as they gathered views and developed stakeholders recommendations, which were compiled into white papers that were later used as advocacy tools during high-level visits and peace roundtable meetings. The Election Management Bodies and the office of the First Vice President acknowledged receiving the recommendations.
Additionally, participants were pleased with the participation of influential institutional stakeholders in the dialogues. They appreciated the opportunity to interact with high-level leaders who were typically difficult to access. Notably, there were appointments amongst project participants to the Presidential Task Force for reconciliation in Zanzibar. These individuals subsequently contributed in incorporating ideas and perspectives from the project’s stakeholder recommendations.
