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.

Yemen
In Aden and Abyan, we support consultative committees that bring together local authorities and civil society to facilitate dialogue and address local challenges collaboratively. We promote mediation, coordination, and joint problem‑solving, while building local capacities for conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Through locally driven initiatives and small grants, we help develop practical solutions that improve service delivery and foster trust, social cohesion, and resilience within communities.

Iraq
In Basra’s Midaina district, we supported dialogue among agricultural stakeholders, leading to a locally owned agreement. We are now working with partners to turn these efforts into sustainable conflict-resolution mechanisms and strengthen cooperation on water management to reduce resource-related tensions. At the national level, we are collaborating with the Higher Authority for Inter-Governorate Coordination to co-design a framework for managing climate- and water-related conflicts across governorates through consultations, technical exchanges, and a dedicated task force.

Somalia
We support peacebuilders from Southwest State in their local efforts for peace. Through a participatory research process, we identified key challenges to peace, climate resilience, and social cohesion in the districts of Baidoa, Barawe, and Hudur. With targeted capacity development, networking opportunities, and micro‑grants, we enable peacebuilders to increase their impact and improve conditions in their communities. We also support women peacebuilders from Hirshabelle, Galmudug, and Southwest State. Through capacity development, peer‑learning, and networking, they strengthen their approaches to addressing gender‑related drivers of conflict and take on a more active role in local peacebuilding.

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

Find out more about other projects in the countries: 

Somalia

• Celebrating ten years of peacebuilding and conflict transformation in Somalia
• Community peacebuilders promoting reconciliation in Hirshabelle and Galmudug States, Somalia
• Infrastructures for peace and environmental peacebuilding in Galmudug and Hirshabelle State, Somalia
• Insider peacebuilders resolving local conflicts in Somalia

Yemen

• Yemen Political Dialogue Support Programme
  
• Strengthening inclusive local governance and peacebuilding in Yemen
• Community safety partnerships
• Keeping doors open in Yemen

Iraq

• Climate-focused mediation and peacebuilding in Iraq
• Strengthening enhanced climate and community resilience in Iraq
• Building community resilience on climate and security risks in Iraq
• Supporting state-citizen dialogue for resilient communities in Anbar, Iraq