Strengthening infrastructures for peace in Iraq, Somalia, and Yemen

Protracted conflict contexts, such as Iraq, Somalia, and Yemen, present a tapestry of multi-dimensional and interconnected challenges, each with its own unique conflict system. However, they all share a common characteristic: the erosion of trust and social cohesion within society and towards the respective governments and formal institutions. External interventions in these contexts have often proven to be inadequate, ineffective and unsustainable and tended to cause more harm than good, as illustrated by numerous top-down pacification efforts or short-term development, state-building and nation-building projects. Based on this insight, Berghof´s programme, Infrastructures for peace: Towards social cohesion through inclusive mechanisms for conflict transformation, aims to strengthen the system’s own resources by enhancing endogenous, local capacities, with an emphasis on infrastructures for peace. Infrastructures for peace are a dynamic network of structures, mechanisms, processes, and associated components such as skills, capacities and resources, that – taken together – help build constructive social and political relationships and enhance societal resilience against relapse into violence. Evidence has shown that infrastructures for peace foster constructive relationships of trust with formal and informal institutions, increase social cohesion, and enhance the resilience of societies, making it more likely for these societies to prevent and transform conflicts constructively, thus laying the foundations for long-term stability and sustained peace.

In Iraq, our work focuses on strengthening community resilience and fostering inclusive dialogue in the face of climate-related challenges and displacement. Together with the local organisation Peace Paradigms, we facilitate dialogues at both community and governorate levels in Basra, bringing together internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, host communities, and local authorities. These conversations aim to rebuild trust and improve local governance. Complementing this, an external research study explores the intersection of climate change, migration, and conflict across multiple governorates.

In Somalia, building on existing work in Galmudug and Hirshabelle, the programme will set up an Insider Peacebuilders Network (IPN) in Southwest State whose members receive support to carry out mediation, dialogue formats and awareness-raising activities in their communities. A locally produced radio programme amplifies peace messages and fosters public dialogue. Through a dedicated Women, Peace and Security (WPS) component, we provide training, peer exchange, and research opportunities for women peacebuilders across three federal states, strengthening their role in shaping peaceful futures.

In Abyan and Aden, Yemen, we are expanding our support for inclusive local governance and community-led peace efforts together with our local partner, the Political Development Forum. Consultative committees bring together communities and decision-makers to resolve conflicts and foster dialogue. We strengthen the capacities of committee members, local authorities, and civil society actors in mediation and collaborative governance. Research on environmental conflict drivers as well as on the cooperation opportunities between Abyan and Aden informs our approach, while small grants enable local peace initiatives. An added climate component supports advocacy for integrating environmental concerns into peace processes and improving mediation of related conflicts.

The project is funded by and implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (Department for Stabilisation and Humanitarian Assistance).

Local partners:

• Political Development Forum in Yemen

• Peace Paradigms Organization in Iraq

• Insider Peacebuilders Network in Somalia

• In Iraq, we provided an MHPSS training to facilitators from our partner organization, PPO, as well as to our own team. In Basra’s Midaina district, we held three dialogues with local authorities, civil society representatives, and tribal leaders on the challenges that displacement linked to climate change poses for both displaced people and host communities while also fostering a better understanding between the different groups.
• In Somalia, the project team conducted two workshops with 16 women peacebuilders from the federal states of Hirshabelle, Galmudug and Southwest State, enabling them to learn from other contexts, exchange experiences and discuss their role as women in peacebuilding efforts in their communities. In addition, community peacebuilders from Southwest State received capacity training about the conflict-climate nexus and conducted participatory research in their communities through various methodologies, sharing their experiences as local peacebuilders and describing needs and challenges of local peace work.
• In Yemen, the newly formed consultative committee in Abyan took part in training on conflict resolution and mediation skills to help them play a stronger role in peacebuilding efforts. Through a small grant, the project rehabilitated the Grand Hall in the governorate, providing a space for official ceremonies, community gatherings, and public events.

The project is funded by and implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (Department for Stabilisation and Humanitarian Assistance).

Local partners:

• Political Development Forum in Yemen

• Peace Paradigms Organization in Iraq

• Insider Peacebuilders Network in Somalia