Community-Based Peacebuilding

Over the last two decades international peacemaking efforts have moved towards more participatory approaches that involve local communities and institutions. As a result, the ‘community-based approach’ to peacebuilding has gained currency in both policy and practice. This approach advocates a localized perspective on contributing to sustainable peace and involves creating or strengthening community-driven institutions for the resolution of conflict and the promotion of peace. In his paper Lukas van Trier from CARE Netherlands, presents the benefits but also criticism of community-based approach. The author argues that the community based approach, although promising in many regards, is faced with fundamental limitations. It follows that community-based intervention cannot replace alternative peacebuilding strategies. At the same time, it should not be dismissed altogether, as it offers a potentially very valuable complement to those strategies. If treated in this way - and fully recognizing its limitations - the community-based approach can serve to solidify peace within communities and realize the necessary grassroots support for, and active involvement in, wider peacebuilding processes.

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COPA is a networking organisation which facilitates linking and sharing among peace practitioners and stakeholders to ensure the building of sustainable peace in Africa. Through its External Publication it aims to facilitate debate on key Peacebuilding related issues. Therefore the views and opinions expressed in the external publications are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of COPA.