Melinda Negron-Gonzales’ Post

📣 SAIS Community Highlight: A Journey of War, Reconciliation, and Learning Join us for an enlightening session organized by the Foreign Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins SAIS, featuring SAIS alumnus Jasmin Cesko in conversation with Prof. Edward P. Joseph. Delve into a powerful story of survival and reconciliation from the Bosnian War—a narrative that resonates with today's challenges in conflict management. Understanding the enduring legacies and divisions left by conflicts is crucial. This talk isn't just a look into the past; it's an essential guide for anyone aspiring to navigate the complex landscape of global security and peacebuilding. The experiences of Cesko, paired with the insights of Professor Joseph, offer a unique chance to connect past events with the skills needed in today's conflict resolution efforts. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/dF8JmF2d

I recently completed a professional course in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) in Emergencies from Humanitarian Leadership Academy.

Completely agree! The cultural gaps between development and diplomacy are severe, and they are hampering progress. With development challenges so often at the root cause of conflict & fragility, what can be done to better connect international efforts across both sectors? As Allison Minor explains... "I worry that too large a divide exists between those two fields, and that both fields are weaker because of it. Even though foreign policy and foreign assistance are deeply interconnected, in my experience, the experts in each field are often speaking past each other. They’re using jargon, establishing separate cultures, failing to grasp others’ perspectives, and creating echo chambers..." We still need better tools, processes, and practices for working at the intersection of development and diplomacy. Whether in the US that is through the GFA, reviewing relationships between USAID/State and other banks and actors (but taking lessons from abroad, and heeding the "merger" folly!), or other levers, our current practices force us too far down siloes. I explore some preliminary insights in "Merging Development and Diplomacy" - https://lnkd.in/gAiYiMxz

🌍✨ Spotlight on our colleague Joëlle Affolter, who regularly advises development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding actors on conflict sensitivity, adaptive management, and local knowledge ecosystems.   To her profile on our website: https://lnkd.in/d4AZ5r9P 💙   ℹ️ Why #ConflictSensitivity? Operating in complex environments such as conflict regions requires technical expertise, a deep understanding of the conflict context, and the ability to implement activities in a conflict sensitive manner. This minimizes the risks of causing harm while maximizing the potential for positive impact.   Here are some examples of Joëlle's work: 🔎 Conflict sensitive program management in Ukraine: https://lnkd.in/dcrZ-uDD 🔎 Increased community and institutional resilience in Liptako Gourma: https://lnkd.in/dB29fB5C   🚶♀Joëlle brings a wealth of experience to the table, having managed development and humanitarian projects and programs in various post-conflict and fragile contexts.

Research Communities of Practice | Research Paper 3   Abdirahman Said Bile's study in our third RCoP paper delves into the effectiveness of local peace committees in Puntland, Somalia, particularly in contexts lacking national government support. It critically examines the Adadda committee's role in fostering sustainable peace through grassroots participation and comprehensive peacebuilding strategies.   This research underscores the committee's success in conflict prevention, community relationship building, and public awareness, contributing to the broader debates on local peace efforts under challenging conditions.   Co-produced with the Puntland Development and Research Center (PDRC), the paper showcases the importance of local initiatives in peacebuilding and the need for diverse community involvement in these processes.   Read the full analysis here: https://bit.ly/3VHRUiY

Watch HFG’s May 2 #KnowledgeAgainstViolence discussion of the successes, shortcomings, and future of peacebuilding in Africa with experts Séverine Autesserre and João Honwana. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e5RhAuQ3

On the International Day of Peace 2024, the Institution of Peace and Development in partenership with PLANET AND ARTS and Agir pour Sauver l'Afrique (ASAFR) , took part in a profound discussion on the theme "The Challenges of Living Together in the Great Lakes Region", gathering youth, parents, academics, and students. The conversation explored the social, economic, and environmental causes of conflict, focusing on issues like relational and cultural barriers, competition for resources, and the unequal management of natural assets. Panelists emphasized the need for regional collaboration to manage shared resources such as forests and lakes, and to address the economic disparities that fuel conflict. The discussion also raised concerns about external actors potentially benefiting from regional instability, leading participants to call for unified, strategic efforts by local communities to counter external interference and reclaim peace and stability. This dialogue serves as a powerful reminder that peacebuilding requires collective action and regional cooperation. Let's hope that this is a starting point for change. Learn more about this in on: Overcoming Conflict in the Great Lakes Region: Insights and Strategies for Peace in Eastern DRC https://lnkd.in/dDZE8mwZ

Today, I had the privilege of attending the five-day Peace Ambassador Program organized by Servelead Humanitarian Initiative, themed "One Nigeria, One Voice for Peace." Dr. Kingsley Udegbunam, our first guest speaker, delivered an insightful session on Conflict Mapping and Analysis. He provided an in-depth exploration of key concepts including Conflict, Peace, and Violence. Dr. Udegbunam elaborated on the essential components of conflict analysis and mapping which are: 1. Issues: The specific problems, grievances, or disputes that drive the conflict. 2. Actors: The individuals, groups, organizations, or institutions involved in or affected by the conflict. 3. Contexts: The environment or background in which the conflict takes place. 4. Power Relations: The distribution of power among the various actors involved in the conflict. 5. Perceptions: The subjective views and interpretations of the conflict and its elements by the actors involved. 6. Positions: The specific interests, goals, or demands of each actor in the conflict. Dr. Udegbunam also introduced various methods of conflict analysis and mapping, including Fact-finding, Analysis Meetings, and Case Studies. He explained tools such as the Onion/Doughnut/Coconut model, the ABC Triangle, the Conflict Tree, and the Conflict Map to illustrate these concepts effectively. Mr. @Esimaje Micheal Onoseme, our second guest speaker, addressed the topic of Tolerance for Interfaith Peacebuilding. He defined tolerance as the willingness to accept differing behaviors and beliefs, even if one does not agree with or approve of them. Tolerance also involves the ability to endure difficult conditions and view situations from others' perspectives. Mr. Onoseme emphasized the importance of tolerance in reducing friction and conflict and highlighted how it provides opportunities for learning and growth from diverse viewpoints. The session with both guest speakers was highly interactive, engaging, and impactful. Their insights and expertise greatly enriched our understanding of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. #serveleadhumanitarianinitiative #thenigeriawewant #peaceambassadorsprogram #onenigeriaonevoiceforpeace

This is exactly a starting point for change.

From the 30-31 May, UNOY co-director Eliška Jelínková will be attending the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS) Steering Group Meeting. IDPS constituencies including Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS), that UNOY is a member of, will discuss strategic issues and decide on concrete engagement priorities, including: 1️⃣ Exchanges on key take-aways and good practices from recently organized IDPS dialogues on Coastal West Africa and Youth, Peace & Security (#YPS); 2️⃣ Follow up engagement for IDPS in Coastal West Africa, building on the findings of the Accra Dialogue and reflections from participants and constituencies; 3️⃣ Identify ways in which the IDPS partnership can further evolve, reflecting on IDPS’ activities in 2023/2024 and the recommendations proposed in the external evaluation shared by Canada; 4️⃣ Agree on IDPS’ engagement at policy level, including joint engagement in global policy fora, contributions to global policy processes (such as the Summit of the Future and the Peacebuilding Architecture Review) and discuss options for political level engagement for the IDPS. Gwendolyn Myers Liz Hume Peter van Sluijs UNDP