How can community-led reconciliation and recovery (CRR) programmes foster peace among conflict-affected populations? What challenges confront such initiatives? This working paper builds on lessons learnt in a CRR programme in Aceh, Indonesia to establish general principles for effective CRR strategies. Strengthening leadership capacity, reforming the mindset of war-torn communities and encouraging co-operation between communities in conflict are central to the success of CRR programmes.
CRR programmes aim to understand the systematic failures which are both caused by and a cause of conflict, and to encourage warring communities to rediscover their interconnectedness. The benefits of empowering communities to help formulate and manage their own development policies have long been recognised. However, it is difficult to transpose lessons learnt in community-driven development in stable societies to initiatives in conflict-ridden countries. Communities in conflict often adopt narrow, short-term perspectives in order to survive: they may be distrustful, violent and unwilling to take proactive action. Wartime leaders may lack the skills or outlook necessary to achieve reconciliation between conflicting parties.
CRR helps to transform the attitudes of populations in conflict and address the challenges of peaceful transitions:
- Communities are encouraged to replace the passive role they adopted during wartime with active participation in recovery planning and resource management.
- Populations are encouraged to take a holistic worldview, taking responsibility for the entirety of their social relations and local livelihoods rather than following a fragmentary approach.
- Effective leadership is strengthened through training and participation in the recovery process.
- Local organisational capacity is fostered to empower local leaders who may otherwise be marginalised by government agencies and donors.
CRR comprises three main stages: 1) persuading communities in conflict to commit to a common goal; 2) building trust between the parties; and 3) assembling leaders to guide the recovery process. Several operational priorities are highlighted:
- Adequate time, technical support and financial resources are required to build trust between communities. Populations often find it easier to work through third-party mediators (possibly originating from the local area), who should be well-versed in local belief systems and comprise a large female component.
- Leadership capacity is built through training and field-based events conducted by all parties together and with the support of local leaders. Individuals receive formal training in personal empowerment and transformational leadership, and practical training in participatory planning, facilitation and communication.
- District-level teams coordinate, support and monitor CRR work at the sub-district level. Team building processes between community leaders from both parties are conducted to foster common peacetime goals.
- Regional leaders are trained to assist village leaders in the planning and management of development activities. Cooperation between all sides of the conflict develops leadership skills, improves livelihoods and provides tangible evidence of peace.
- Strong, accountable village organisations are established through direct local funding and training. Village planning is organised via a five-year economic plan and implemented by all sectors of the community.
- Recent CRR efforts in Aceh, Indonesia highlight the importance of village-level leadership in consolidating peace processes and promoting community confidence and hope. Lessons learnt include the value of a peace agreement; safe access to conflict-affected areas; control by regional leaders over local leaders; donor willingness to cede control to local leaders; and consistency of programming across all areas.
