‘Peace is a common good, a work of each one'

‘Member Storytellings’ is a new series of articles issued by the Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS) in direct collaboration with its members, featuring the work of its members. Curious to see what our colleagues in Guinea Bissau are doing? This week, we talked with Seco Sori Camara from Voz di Paz from Guinea Bissau who reflects on their mandate, but also on their current and past projects.

VOZ DI PAZ

An experienced organisation

Voz di Paz - Initiative for Peacebuilding began its work as a program within INEP in 2007, and became an independent NGO in 2010, with more than a decade of dedication to rooting the culture of peace in Guinea-Bissau.

Voz di Paz has been working early on in the field of conflict resolution at the local level through its Regional Spaces for Dialogue (RRE), and has been carrying out several peacebuilding projects with international funding. Always focused on peacebuilding, the organisation has worked in domains, such as:

• Civil-Military Relations
• Communication for Peace
• Citizenship
• Women's participation
• Formal and traditional justice
• Youth participation

Voz di Paz has as a mandate to stimulate citizen engagement for good governance and peacebuilding throughout the Guinean population, with a specific focus on the most vulnerable groups. 

With this aim, the organisation has 3 strategic objectives: 

• Objective 1 - Conflict prevention and resolution 

Strengthen capacities to prevent and mediate conflicts at different levels of society, increasing trust between individuals and groups.

• Objective 2 - Good governance

Promote more active citizenship and more informed and effective policy-making in the justice sector.

• Objective 3 - Collaborate with and between the defence and security forces

Strengthen the collaboration of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) with other institutional and civilian actors and increase the participation of the FDS in shaping the reform of the sector. 

Voz di Paz works through participatory and inclusive approaches for structural change. The organisation places its action in a long-term perspective. Its approach is based on the idea that true peace is not built with instant success. Lasting peace is born from a lengthy process of breaking the logic of conflicts and building trust with the intrinsic resources of societies themselves and the commitment of all actors. 

'Peace is a common good, a work of each one'

Voz di Paz's approach promotes inclusive participation, capacity strengthening and accountability of local actors, enabling them to be active in identifying problems and proactive in finding appropriate solutions to build lasting peace, as a prerequisite for sustainable development.

Local Structures for Peace Across Guinea-Bissau

In 2007 Voz di Paz established 10 permanent dialogue groups throughout the country: Biombo, Cacheu Margem Esquerda, Cacheu Margem Direita, Oio – Farim, Oio – Mansôa, Bafatá, Gabú, Quinara, Tombali, Bubaque. These centres have a total of about 90 members, spread across all sectors of the country.

By helping the population in conflict management, these Regional Spaces for Dialogue make an essential contribution to building peace in Guinea-Bissau. Over the past decade, DRSs have resolved hundreds of local conflicts, using dialogue as a tool for peaceful conflict management, to combat insecurity, poor governance, and to address religious differences and violence against women, for example. In several cases, the ERDs invite the population and representatives of the State at the local level to seek joint solutions to their problems. This ability to convene such meetings can be explained by the respect and legitimacy that the local personalities who make up these ERDs possess.

OUR ACTIVITIES

Carried out in all regions of Guinea-Bissau, with the support of our Regional Spaces for Dialogue, Voz di Paz conducts;

• Mediation and conflict monitoring at the community level;

• Research and focus groups in all regions in the country

As part of the Participatory Action Research methodology, Voz di Paz's work is based on the consultation of the population on different topics related to peacebuilding. One of its main activities is holding focus-groups or consultations, in the various regions of the country and with different groups of the population.

Training

As part of various projects, Voz di Paz has organised training in various areas to build the capacity of key people, such as peace journalism, leadership and conflict management, advocacy (with a focus on gender, non-violent communication techniques, etc.), conflict sensitivity, among others.

Promoting dialogue and citizen participation 

Continuing its mandate to stimulate citizen engagement, Voz di Paz focuses on citizen participation in all its activities. To reinforce it and to do so, specific groups were created in the regions, the Spaces for Citizen Intervention.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Prevention of conflicts related to pastoralism and transhumance in eastern Guinea-Bissau (2023 - 2025)

The 3-year project aims to develop strategies and mechanisms for preventing conflicts linked to pastoralism and transhumance in the Gabú and Bafatá regions. The aim of the project is to respond to the growing land conflicts between farmers and breeders and the marginalisation of transhumance breeders on the land.

Funding entity: United Nations Peacebuilding Fund PBF.

Participatory Conflict Mapping and Analysis (2023 - 2024)

Contribute to increasing the availability and accessibility of information on patterns and trends related to local conflict. Provide information on the status, evolution of the conflict, and peacebuilding dynamics in the country.

Funding entity: United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)

Strengthening Social Cohesion in the Public Health Sector in Guinea-Bissau (2023 - 2024) 

Contribute to the strengthening of social cohesion by promoting inclusive and effective governance of the public health sector. Strengthen the capacity of the health team in negotiations and dialogue with the government in order to seek solutions to claims and offer a quality health service.

Funding entity: WHO, with United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)

Inclusive Policies and Institutions for a Peaceful Society (2021 - 2023)

To strengthen the social framework and encourage the meaningful participation of young people in decision-making in the country; to strengthen the role and leadership of young people and increase their meaningful participation and inclusion in decision-making processes in Guinea-Bissau by consolidating relations between different generations, building the capacity and self-confidence of young leaders and promoting new models of leadership. Encourage the participation of young girls from rural areas and representatives of traditionally marginalised groups in the redefinition of youth-related institutions and policies.

Funding entity: United Nations Peacebuilding Fund PBF and IANDA Guinea ᴉ Djuntu.

PREVIOUS PROJECTS

Inclusive and peaceful land management in the regions of Biombo, Oio and Cacheu (2021 - 2023)

Develop a common understanding in communities about peaceful and inclusive land management. Promote peace in the communities of the regions of Biombo, Oio and Cacheu through dialogue and inclusive and transparent mechanisms for the sustainable use of land.

Funding entities: United Nations Peacebuilding Fund PBF

Women's participation (2017 - 2018)

Towards a new balance in Guinea-Bissau: creating the space for real participation of women in the peaceful resolution of conflicts and governance. National awareness-raising, capacity-building and mentoring campaigns for women leaders in political advocacy, conflict mediation and facilitation of inclusive dialogues, to strengthen women's participation in governance and conflict management.

Funding entity: United Nations Peacebuilding Fund

To see more previous projects of Voz di Paz, you can visit their website here. 

OUR PARTNERS 

INTERPEACE

Our work is carried out jointly with Interpeace, an international peacebuilding NGO and Voz di Paz's main partner.

NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY RADIOS

Based on the content recorded during the various activities, Voz di Paz produces radio spots and programmes that are broadcasted on various national and community radio stations in order to disseminate the key messages and promote debate on the themes addressed.

CIVIL SOCIETY PLATFORM FOR PEACEBUILDING AND STATEBUILDING (CSPPS)

Voz di Paz is the civil society organisation that represents Guinea-Bissau within this important international platform, participating regularly in dedicated forums.

OTHER COLLABORATIONS

PPM - PLATEFORME POLITIQUE DES FEMMES

REMPSECAO-GB - RÉSEAU DES FEMMES POUR LA PAIX ET LA SÉCURITÉ AU SEIN DE LA COMMUNAUTÉ ÉCONOMIQUE DES ÉTATS DE L'AFRIQUE DE L'OUEST

REMUME - RÉSEAU DE FEMMES MÉDIATRICES EN GUINÉE-BISSAU

UNIOGBIS - BUREAU INTÉGRÉ DES NATIONS UNIES POUR LA CONSOLIDATION DE LA PAIX EN GUINÉE-BISSAU

WANEP - WEST AFRICAN NETWORK FOR PEACEBUILDING