Our Projects
Our work is inspired by our vision of a peaceful, just, democratic country that preserves the dignity and sanctity of human life for all and is based on the Gender Responsive Peacebuilding (GRPB) Framework. In addition to taking into account how people are affected by conflicts differently depending on their age, sex, ethnicity, and other characteristics, gender-responsive peacebuilding also takes into account the implications and concerns that are unique to gender. It recognizes women’s status, rights, and complementary roles in promoting peace. Beyond merely attending to the legal, social, and economic needs of women or addressing human rights violations against them, gender equality in peacebuilding is crucial for other reasons as well. Alternatively, a gendered perspective presents peacebuilding as a widely inclusive process.
Gender Responsive Conflict Prevention Management Resolution Transformation and Healing (GRCPMRTH)
Local Peace Committees
In response to Zimbabwe’s national peace architecture, the Ecumenical Church Leaders Forum (ECLF) is one of the organizations working with communities to establish Local Peace Committees (LPCs) as a mechanism for early response to conflicts in most of its project areas. In the districts where it currently works, such as Beitbridge, Bikita, Chivi, Gwanda, Matobo, Nkayi, Tsholotsho, and Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, as well as in the districts where we previously worked, like Binga, Chitungwiza, Harare, Mhondoro, Mutasa, Mudzi, Mutoko, and Zaka, the ECLF has made it possible for communities to establish LPCs. These were configured after the GRCPMRTH workshops held by the forum. The facilitators urge the participants to consider what steps they can take moving forward to ensure the longevity and continuity of the community-based peacebuilding initiative. This approach makes it possible to resolve disputes originating in the region by implementing indigenous peace-building initiatives. Beyond the project cycle, the local peace committee (LPC) is an integral part of the organization’s exit strategy and programming sustainability across all its project lifecycles.
Why LPCs?
LPCs are inclusive forums operating at the subnational level (such as districts, municipalities, towns, wards, and villages). Their primary aim is to encourage and facilitate joint, inclusive peace-making and peacebuilding processes within their local context. LPCs are composed of diverse stakeholders, including local government representatives, civil society members, business leaders, religious figures, traditional group representatives, and community members.
LPCs are community structures for peace and are set up and managed by community members. The communities choose eminent people, including women representatives to ensure women’s participation in peacebuilding, young people, religious leaders, traditional leaders, government employees in some areas, political leaders and others that the community deem fit to be part of the Local Peace Committees (LPCs), who play a crucial role in micro-level peacebuilding. LPCs are social spaces that are organic, participatory, and non-threatening. They employ both conventional and contemporary methods of resolving disputes. These committees promote communication, understanding among members, productive dispute resolution, and problem-solving techniques. Beyond their immediate surroundings, LPCs support sustainable peace by enhancing community resilience and social cohesion. With volunteers from the community and no formal government mandate, LPCs are prime examples of grassroots institutions. They act as crucial hubs for cooperative initiatives promoting long-lasting peace by utilizing community involvement and local knowledge.
Gender Responsive Conflict Prevention Management Resolution Transformation and Healing (GRCPMRTH)
Our work is inspired by our vision of a peaceful, just, democratic country that preserves the dignity and sanctity of human life for all, and it is based on the Gender Responsive Peacebuilding (GRPB) Framework. In addition to taking into account how people are affected by conflicts differently depending on their age, sex, ethnicity, and other characteristics, gender-responsive peacebuilding also takes into account the implications and concerns unique to gender. It recognizes women’s status, rights, and complementary roles in promoting peace. Beyond merely attending to the legal, social, and economic needs of women or addressing human rights violations against them, gender equality in peacebuilding is crucial for other reasons as well. Alternatively, a gendered perspective presents peacebuilding as a widely inclusive process.
Leveraging on Peace Education in Schools to Support Community Development and Promote Sustainable Human Security
The Mennonites Central Committee is providing funding for this project, which aims to expand on previous school-based peacebuilding efforts by fostering greater unity among students, educators, and community leaders in order to achieve sustainable human security and development. It entails strengthening community-based dialogue platforms, fostering dialogues in schools, and addressing school-based peace. As important stakeholders in the processes, learners’ needs are taken into consideration in order to support collaborative problem solving and decision making that supports resilience to both internal and external shocks. Three designated districts – Nkayi, Tsholotsho, and Mberengwa, are implementing the project.
The target audiences have been greatly impacted by the project.
● Participants provided the following instances of how the program promoting peace education in schools can enhance people’s lives: Instead of resorting to violence or self-harm, a student who experienced bullying at Mberengwa Primary School learned how to handle the situation by approaching others for support.
● A teacher who was dissatisfied with the school’s lack of resources and assistance learns how to use interactive and participatory teaching techniques to create a happy and calm learning environment for both her and the students.
● A parent who was worried about the exposure of his child to violent media and games learns how to engage in constructive dialogue with his child and encourages him to explore other forms of entertainment and expression through peace education in schools. Some parents and stakeholders indicated that they were not aware of the parental control settings on their phones.
● A community leader involved in a local conflict learned how to mediate between the conflicting parties and facilitate a peaceful resolution based on mutual respect and understanding.
Positive Peace Staff Training
In partnership with the Institute for Economics and Peace, Ecumenical Church Leaders Forum Zimbabwe, organized a two- and half-day Positive Peace Workshop in Bulawayo to train ECLF focal persons and the secretariat on the elements of positive peace. It aimed at capacitating participants on how to implement the framework in their various societies at all levels. The program concentrated on the underlying ideas and components of peaceful coexistence as well as practical methods of doing so in local settings. In relation to the ECLF strategy, presentations on systems thinking and resource mobilization were presented.
