This project used participatory approaches to produce analyses of 18 conflict situations around the world. Its final report recommends that, to use locally-led analysis more consistently and effectively, donors could: pay more attention to the process of analysis; encourage analysis to focus on potential solutions, not just describe the problem; prioritise the translation of analysis into responses; and support participatory conflict analysis as a peacebuilding intervention.
In many situations local civil society actors lack the skills, confidence and access to engage with complex international organisations. These organisations in turn lack opportunities for direct contact with the communities their interventions are designed to help and an understanding of the issues affecting them.
The People’s Peacemaking Perspectives (PPP) project was an 18-month joint initiative between Conciliation Resources and Saferworld. The project sought to provide opportunities for civil society to influence the European Union’s conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives.
One of the key messages that emerged was that conflict analysis should be at the heart of international engagement in all conflict-affected and fragile contexts. Further:
- Different forms of research and analysis are required for different needs – for example, to inform short-term responses to crises, or longer-term assessments of how to address the root causes of conflict.
- Approaches that emphasise and amplify local perspectives should at least be considered alongside other forms of conflict analysis.
- The potential for participatory analysis might be limited by lack of skills among local actors.
A second key message was the need to pay more attention to the process of conflict analysis, which can itself have value for peacebuilding:
- Workshops and discussion groups created opportunities for dialogue, reflection, and the building of trust between people – from different ethnic divides, for example.
- Trust building through participatory approaches can increase people’s honesty, leading to a more insightful final analysis.
- The process of reflection can help people understand their potential influence over their situation.
- To generate the full peacebuilding value of deeper and broader participatory conflict analysis, the process should be neither one-off, nor short-term.
- INGOs and academics with established partnerships in a particular context can be important partners in accessing areas and populations that governmental and multilateral actors cannot.
A third key message is that conflict analysis should include a focus on response, so as to generate ideas for peacebuilding:
- For example, the discussions looked at what could be done to build peace, who should do it, and how.
- Staff with competencies in both analysis and in designing and implementing peacebuilding strategies should be involved in conflict analysis.
- Participation in conflict analysis should also apply to those commissioning it, so as to increase ownership of the findings and recommendations.
