The Peace Conversation Initiative, launched by the EU-CORD network, aims to spotlight community-led approaches and offer a nuanced picture on normative peacebuilding. As part of this effort, the publication ‘The Missing Piece in Peace’ gathers best practices and valuable stories on how peace is built every day in local communities. The stories featured in the publication constitute the members of the EU-Cord network and their local partners highlighting what truly makes peace sustainable: by empowering local communities to use the tools they already have, to resolve their own conflicts. By amplifying voices from the ground, it emphasise the need to invest in community-led approaches.
LM is proud to present that our partner organisation Mission for Emergency Aid & Lifesaving (MEAL) in Somalia is highlighted in the publication, an initiative that focus on empowering farmers with climate–smart agriculture. MEAL’s community-led programmes are strengthening social cohesion, reducing local conflicts, and creating space for people to work together for lasting peace. The initiative finds that boosting agricultural productivity, reducing competition over land and water, and engaging vulnerable groups, mitigated local conflict triggers. Their work reminds us that peace is not only built after conflict, but through inclusive development, strong local institutions, and everyday community action.
Informing European Policy dialogue through country experience
Insights from Somalia, Ethiopia and across East Africa informed a policy dialogue hosted at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, co-hosted by LM International, EU-CORD members, and Member of the European Parliament Hildegard Bentele. The discussion explored how the Global Gateway can translate the Sustainable Development Goals into partnerships that are both economically viable and responsive to realities in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
Valuable insights from Ethiopia were raised by keynote speaker Mr Ephrem Shiferaw, Regional Strategic Advisor for Woord en Daad in East Africa, on how peacebuilding, investment, and partnerships, with a focus on how the Global Gateway can be implemented in ways that are conflict-sensitive and locally driven.
The presence of multiple Members of the European Parliament and civil society partners showcased an increased engagement and commitment to this matter. This opportunity allowed us to reflect upon the role of Europe in fragile contexts and the importance of amplifying the voices of people living in conflict-affected regions. The meeting was concluded with envisions on establishing mechanisms within Global Gateway investments that ensure genuine consultation with partner countries and civil society in policymaking and investment decisions.
Learn more about The Peace Conversation Initiative here
Take part of the impactful stories from local partners featured in the publication ‘The Missing Piece in Peace’.