Life and Peace Institute's projects in Somalia and the DRC
This report is an evaluation of the conflict transformation programmes of Life and Peace Institute in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia. Both programmes are implemented in contexts marked by sporadic but extensive violent conflict. They aim at facilitating 'peacebuilding from below' through training and support to civil society and community-based initiatives as well as through promoting local-level dialogues. The Somalia project is completed, the DRC project is in its first phase. Both programmes have shown that external support to local-level peacebuilding is feasible and can make a difference through infusing peacebuilding skills and boosting local self-confidence. But this must be accompanied by continuous conflict analysis and review of the relevance of the activities promoted, and by active strategic management. Without these there will not be any lessons learned nor may skills be translated into capacity-building.
