BACKGROUND
Centre for Peacebuilding and Conflict Management (C4PeaCM) is a civil society organisation that is a department under Youth Network Ministries (YNET). YNET is a faith based organisation that is there to meet the needs of the mankind, especially the youth and women, and solve their plight so that mankind contributes positively and meaningfully to the sustainable development of nations. T
he other departments are Centre of Counselling and Guidance (CORE) for Youth Development and Nations Prayer Centre (NPC). Malawi context is in post-conflict period which were caused by ethnic, religious and political divisions; large populations of unemployed and unengaged youth; and depressed or declining economic opportunities. Many of these young people remain idle in our local communities, streets both in rural and urban areas. This idleness has resulted in the youth being abused by politicians and this has manifested strongly during general elections and tripartite elections in Malawi. Youth unemployment has been widely recognised as a threat to durable peace and it is accorded highest priority in the peace consolidation effort by C4PeaCM. Women are many times victims of conflicts, therefore, women’s participation in peace negotiations and post-conflict peace consolidation – both as agents of peace, and in order to address their concerns as victims of conflict – is increasingly recognized as a vital contribution to long term recovery and stability. RATIONALE
C4PeaCM is based in Blantyre, Malawi and concentrate its efforts in Malawi. Malawi is largely looked at as a peaceful country whereby there have been no major conflicts in comparison to other countries in Africa. However, in the advent of multiparty democracy, since the mid 1990s, Malawi has experienced intra-conflicts which had led to loss of lives and resources. These intra-conflicts have been detrimental to sustained peace and development. The current post-conflict period is a critical juncture for Malawi to building peace, conflict prevention and transformation. Peacebuilding is primarily a national challenge and responsibility. It is the citizens of the countries where peacebuilding is underway, with support from their governments, who assume the responsibility for laying the foundations of lasting peace. The peacebuilding endeavours requires multiple stakeholders. National ownership is essential to success. Currently, Malawi Government is in the process of establishing a National Peace Architecture (NPA) to serve as the national pillar for peacebuilding, conflict prevention and transformation. C4PeaCM would like to be part of the actors in the process of building sustained peace and development in Malawi. Peacebuilding and development go hand in hand. It is a common fact that without peace there could be no sustained development. MAIN OBJECTIVE
C4PeaCM aims to contribute towards a sustainable peace and development in nations by promoting constructive, creative and co-operative approaches to the peacebuilding and conflict management through capacity building, advocacy, mediation and facilitation. APPROACH
C4PeaCM fundamentally uses community-based approaches peacebuilding process that involves interaction between three layers of actors in peacebuilding; top, middle and grassroots leadership. Top leadership in politics, religious, government, other sectors with high visibility, middle leadership that is respected in sectors such as ethnic, religious, academic/intellectuals and humanitarian (NGOs) leaders, and grassroots leadership which comprise local leaders, leaders of indigenous NGOs and community developers which focus on high-level negotiation, mediation, problem solving, training in conflict resolution and grassroots training among others. These community-based approaches are relevant across many sectors and peacebuilding interventions. They are applicable to individual community-level projects or as components of wider national programmes. These will focus mainly on achieving development outcomes, such as service delivery and peace. We believe that peacebuilding involves a range of measures targeted to reduce the risk of lapsing or relapsing into conflict by strengthening national capacities at all levels for conflict management, and to lay the foundations for sustainable peace and development. Peacebuilding strategies must be coherent and tailored to specific needs of the country concerned, based on national ownership, and should comprise a carefully prioritized, sequenced, and therefore relatively narrow set of activities aimed at achieving the above objectives. As an actor in peacebuilding projects our projects shall guided by shared vision and a long term view, clarity of agreement and an agreed understanding of what peacebuilding means, safety, flexible and open mindedness, respect for difference, a positive problem solving attitude, realism, trust and a sense of humour and attention to enjoyment and comfort. Essential Features of Peacebuilding
• National ownership
• National capacity
• Common strategy
PLAN OF ACTION 2016 – 2020
C4PeaCM is about to develop its long-term plan that shall guide its operations for the next four (4) years. Current projects include pilot training projects for local communities that have been in religious, ethnic and political conflict in Blantyre, Mzuzu, Karonga and Dedza. WHERE TO FIND US
C4PeaCM is located in Mpemba, 16 KM FROM THE Centre of Blantyre City off Chikwawa Road,
For more information contact
The Director, Centre for Peacebuilding and Conflict Management
P.O. Box 100
Mpemba
Blantyre
MALAWI
Tel.: (+256) 0111644465
Cell: (+265) 0884988555
Email: [email protected]
