The history of conflict and tension between communities in Jos, Nigeria, has created a complex situation that demands a collaborative solution. In 2017, Search for Common Ground initiated a Collective Impact approach under the Collaborative for Violence Prevention project, which has since become the Jos Stakeholder Centre for Peace (JSCP). This multi-stakeholder network is composed of 39 representatives of communities and organizations across critical sectors in Jos North dedicated to preventing and reducing violence through collective action. JSCP enables shared decision-making and collective action between young people at the grassroots level and those in positions of power, based on locally-led analysis and evidence-based interventions. The network has established Working Groups to lead community-based initiatives on cultural violence and substance abuse prevention, psychosocial support, and community-security agency collaboration. This project focuses on ensuring that youth are partners in building peace, and half of the members of the network are either representatives from youth organizations or young people.
In 2020
Since the start of 2020, the Jos Stakeholder Center for Peace (JSCP) has continued to work towards the goal of reduced violence in Jos, while successfully adapting to the unique challenges of COVID-19.
In March, JSCP completed the Breaking the Borders initiative in collaboration with Global Relief and the Dialogue Reconciliation and Peace Centre (DREP Centre), with funding from Tearfund Nigeria. The project, which promotes collaboration across divided communities in Jos in order to respond to escalating violence, reached 43% of young people in the area. Breaking the Borders focused on the communities of Angwan Mai Damisa and Angwan Bala Kaze and inaugurated 30 community leaders and influencers across the divided communities as Breaking the Border Ambassadors (BBAs). The Ambassadors are involved in advancing community-based early warning and response, youth action, and community cohesion initiatives. The project has provided informative lessons on collective action for violence prevention in Jos.
While reflecting on the impact of JSCP’s work, the late Alhaji Mai Mainja, a highly respected Muslim community leader in Jos North, stated “I love the approach where they started from the bottom to this level, which explains why we are here today. I have been invited several times to attend peace meetings in this same place but declined because I wasn’t sure of my safety. But here we are today, which is an evidence that peace has returned.”
In response to the challenges of COVID-19, JSCP established an intervention team to coordinate the network’s various members and their response to the pandemic. JSCP trained members in virtual meeting organizing to enhance their capacity for remote work and mobilized $500 worth of food items as palliatives distributed by the BBAs to 30 households identified as most in need. The network is continuing to raise awareness and funds for COVID-19 and participating in a locally-organized campaign to combat rising cases of gender and domestic violence.
While assessing the impact of the COVID-19 palliative distribution strategy, the Chairperson of the BBA stated that “the distribution of the food given to us by you [JSCP] kept us busy and reminded us that we can still do something even with the fear caused by the virus. That is why we have all agreed to embark on the clearing of grasses in our border communities that has caused security threat to the two communities and security agencies [on days when the lockdown was eased by the government]. The last time the other community wanted [to cut] the bush, it almost created violence, but we have all agreed to do it together.”
In addition, JSCP launched a psychosocial support campaign prioritizing young people called Youth Jos Hope. The project is a vehicle for young people to share their experiences of building resilience during COVID-19 and beyond, and it provides online mentorship and support.
The success of the Jos Stakeholder Centre for Peace has helped to create a safer community in Jos and elevate the voices of youth peacebuilders.
