Banj’s Post

Thank you to all of you who joined the February 1 Peacebuilding Session sponsored by the Global Dialogue Collective. -We were very pleased to see some fresh new faces- thank you for joining us! We are thankful to Hugh Pidgeon and Allan Marks for helping Maja Nenadovic and I facilitate the session! -We hope we continue to do our tiny part in spreading peace or "shanti" as someone said in each and everyone of us, so that it spreads and "infects" all. -Unfortunately, we could not record the session as we normally do, so we apologize. Here is a brief summary: - We had people from China, India, Israel, European countries and US - Our theme was dehumanization and how that allows for us to perpetrate unimaginable violence on others - Our question was how can we spread and boost the capacity for "rehumanizing" the Other? - We will continue to explore that but some great ideas and books were shared: ----offering our experiences/expertise to help people on the ground engaged in peacebuilding actions ----teaching schooolchildren the capacity for dialogic engagement (which is already happening in several European countries where immigration/migration is a challenge or opportunity? ----bringing back noble human values such as mercy, compassion, empathy and specifically atonement/reparations when people in large numbers are dispossessed and brutalized/humiliated ---In Dusseldorf, Germany, the town has put "communications benches" that encourage conversations between strangers ---"Overcoming Polarization" a book authored by Lauren Berthold which focuses on heart-based dialogue and dehumanization dehumanizes the dehumanizer (see image below) ---"My Grandmother's Hands a book by Resma Menakem about racial trauma and how to heal ---"Zen and the Psychology of Transformation" by Hubert Benois and Aldous Huxley We look forward to see you at our next peacebuilding session on March 7...look out for our flyer!

Great engagement @ Joint ECOSOCC-WIPC CSOs Mtg on State of Peace & Security in Africa…Exchange held in Lusaka I briefed audience on ECOWAS initiatives with CSOs on PS including strategies and institutional challenges. Key takeaways: Each one of our actions must lay foundation for peace; We need to tackle on HC & importance of CSOs: Women, Faith based organizations, Youth to ensure peace building, silencing d guns; accountability on DGG businesses Promote gender - sensitive EW systems; Ensure protection, safety & security of women peace builders and CSOs activists; Continued CP, technical support; RM Smooth collaboration with media to avoid désinformation & misinformation @ MS level; Action, Action & implementation of recommendations, AU PSC and Assembly decisions.

In June, the 6th National Dialogues Conference took place between days 11-13 in Helsinki, Finland. This conference aims to foster open discussions between high level peacebuilding experts that enables the sharing of both challenges and successes. Key points on what you may have missed from the #NDC24: 🔑 Inclusivity is key 🙌 Advancing role for traditional peace actors ✊ Youth are the present & the future Expand on those key areas mentioned here https://buff.ly/4bjuTaf

It has been such an honour to chair the VII Advisory Group of the United Nations Secretary General's #Peacebuilding Fund over the past two years. I sat down with the brilliant Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support in the UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) department, to reflect on the key achievements of the VII Advisory Group, how the Fund is uniquely placed to be a catalyst for transformation across the wider peacebuilding community, the importance to define #impact for peacebuilding work, and the urgent need to provide the Fund with more resources – which are critically low despite demand for the Fund continuing to grow. The conversation is split into two parts: Part 1: 📽️ https://lnkd.in/eFTZ_G9A Part 2: 📽️ https://lnkd.in/ePugY-i2 #InvestInPeace #Peacebuilding #Peace UN Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)

Good guidance for addressing substantial issues in emergencies and long-term development programming.

Check out the latest Issue of the Organization Development Journal for article on OD for Africa. Visit www.isodc.org to subscribe and access the full Issue

Peacebuilding is a broad category of activities that are intended to reduce ongoing conflict or reconstruct the social fabric of a community or country in the aftermath of widespread violence. Increasingly, participatory action research (PAR) is being utilized in post-conflict contexts because of its inherent focus on bringing different, and often unheard, perspectives to the table in the process of revealing new understandings of an experience, and in building responses to the problems people in post-conflict situations confront on a daily basis. The United States Institute of Peace (USIP), a government agency started in the Regan era, is an important contributor to peacebuilding activities in around the world. Since 2015, Dr. Felix Bivens has worked as a technical advisor to USIP, supporting the design of multiple projects constructed around PAR approaches. Most of these projects also focus on youth because young people are often excluded from research and policymaking spaces. In 2017 - 2018, Felix supported a peacebuilding process with youth peacebuilders in Kenya. The project was composed of three parallel research streams, one in each of the country’s major cities. Six young peacebuilders, already experienced community leaders with previous training from USIP, were provided intensive PAR training. These leaders then recruited youth in their communities to be the researchers in an 18-month PAR process in which the youth collaboratively designed a research question, gathered data in their communities using participatory methods, collectively analyzed the data and, at the close of the process, creatively shared the findings of their research at a public forum in their community. The project elevated youth as agents of change and facilitated the formation of new cross-sectoral partnerships to address the issues at the center of each of the research processes. Watch this 12-minute video to learn for about USIP’s Youth-Led PAR Program in Kenya: https://lnkd.in/dxH8NQNn We have an upcoming Participatory Action Research workshop this October 30 to November 3 headed by The Regenerative School’s co-founder Felix Bivens, to learn more, go to: https://lnkd.in/dsfFfDwx #PAR #ParticipatoryActionResearch #Peace #Peacebuilding #Community #Kenya #TheRegenerativeSchool #Research #Academic #Academe #Education

I am excited meeting in New York, Elizabeth Spehar, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) at the Sideline of 79th Session #UNGA Summit of the Future on Local Action, Global Accountability organized by Peace Direct. Session Objectives · - Showcase relevant locally-led initiatives across the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding nexus. · - Engage in critical dialogue to ensure mutual accountability. · - Explore barriers to operationalising commitments to locally-led action and propose concrete steps for overcoming these.

In February, Centralina Regional Council debuted a new overview video at the first 2024 Board of Delegates Meeting. This short-but-sweet video provides a comprehensive summary of our organization's mission, values, services and the profound impact we aim to have on our region's communities. Learn more about Centralina by watching the video 🍿🎥 https://loom.ly/Y2_qna0

Having spent the vast majority of my career in municipal government forming and maintaining strong relationships with Council, I place significant value on Council Orientation Sessions. I would love the opportunity to connect with municipalities and organizations to discuss the importance of Council (and board) Orientations in promoting effective governance and organizational success. Having formed strong relationships with Councillors in my previous roles, I understand firsthand the value of role clarity and strong council-admin (or ED and board member) relationships. Many municipalities only think of holding Council Orientations following the general election, but it is critical to also do so following a by-election. Let's chat about how Strategic Steps can support your Elected Officials in their role as community governors. #CouncilOrientations #GoodGovernance #OrganizationalEffectiveness