Bust the myth that peacebuilding should only happen post-conflict: Conflict doesn’t evolve in phases. Peacebuilding has a preventive role as well and it is also useful in societies that did not experience full-blown violence but still need reconciliation. Francesco Mancini, Adj Associate Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, @ManciniFr
Take a bottom-up approach to peacebuilding: Although peace agreements are signed at the top level, the success of any peace process depends on how it is implemented on the ground. The focus must be on strengthening platforms for people from across the dividing lines to come together. There must also be open dialogue between local, subnational and national peacebuilding bodies. An example of this could be the establishment of local peace committees that many countries have tried, including Nepal. Rajendra Mulmi, country director, Nepal Search for Common Ground, Kathmandu, Nepal, @rmulmi
Address serious threats to civic space: Our State of Civil Society Report 2015 highlighted that change-seeking civil society organisations (CSOs) find it harder to receive funding. In 2014, six out of seven people lived in countries where their civic freedoms were under threat. How can we get governments to lift restrictions on cross border funding? Mandeep Singh Tiwana, head of policy and research, Civicus, Johannesburg, South Africa @mandeep_tiwana1
Demonstrate how civil society can promote stability: Show political leaders the practical ways in which an active civil society can help promote social cohesion or run community security projects. Build coalitions with friendly politicians, media and business leaders to open up dialogue between different groups. Thomas Wheeler, conflict and security advisor, Saferworld, London, UK @TJAWheeler
Get everyone in one room to talk: In Cyprus, most people on the island do not feel that the leaders are listening to their concerns. One approach we have tried is to create cross-sectoral dialogues which include as many diverse voices as possible – business, politicians, NGOs and trade unions. This is one way which political elites can be drawn into more inclusive debates, where they can hear and respond to diverse opinions. Christopher Louise, programme manager, UNDP, Nicosia, Cyprus @chrisjlouise
Push for local ownership of peacebuilding: We have strong evidence that civil society inclusion in peacebuilding improves the quality of peace in the long term, yet their participation in international or nationally-led programmes still remains adhoc. But governments can strengthen their own peacebuilding efforts by collecting and measuring the impact of this local knowledge. We’ve collected case studies on how community groups interact with national actors on peacebuilding projects but more research is needed to show how incorporating local ideas and community priorities leads to success. Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, senior policy analyst, International Peace Institute (IPI), New York, USA @Andrea_O_S, @ipinst
But do not presume legitimate representation: International actors often focus on elite groups in national capitals, which inhibits deeper buy-in for projects implemented in communities without consultation on priorities and programme design. Andrea Ó Súilleabháin
Understand civil society means different things in different places: For example, in Egypt even the terminology “civil society” is toxic. But, there was involvement in the drafting of the constitution from many parts of the society. In other countries, civil society takes the role of political opposition which creates resistance in governments. Sometimes, a more academic or thinktank approach can help to pass ideas to government officials. Francesco Mancini
Respect neutrality: Civil society often finds itself caught between different parties in conflict, and more must be done to assert and adhere to a norm that all sides in a conflict should respect civil society’s political neutrality and independence, and uphold their right to deliver essential humanitarian services and report on human rights violations, where they encounter them. Mandeep Singh Tiwana
External actors can have value in fragile states: While engaging local actors is very important to harness local knowledge, external actors are equally important in fragile states. Often conflict polarises communities and an external actor might introduce some element of neutrality into the equation. They can also provide financial and technical support to local actors in harnessing local knowledge. Hussein Kasim, chief policy analyst, Sahan and Somalia Stability Fund, Nairobi, Kenya
Engage men: Peacebuilding processes should pay more attention to promoting positive masculinities and better engagement of men and boys. This will eventually help in reducing and preventing violence and also promote the role and participation of women in peacebuilding. Rajendra Mulmi
Use civil society to measure and monitor progress: What role can civil society play in monitoring the new sustainable development goals, which includes a goal on peaceful societies? They can highlight where effort needs to be focused, and hold leaders to account for their promises. We’ve seen civil society already develop really innovative approaches to acting as monitors, for example through using social media and tech to crowdsource incidents of violence. Thomas Wheeler
Leverage technology to connect people: Technology is a gamechanger for peacebuilding. It’s bringing groups together and forming alliances which would have been difficult to forge previously without the platform. Technology is allowing ideas to bounce off each other which would have had no space previously. Raseema Alam, founder, connected development advisers, Toronto, Canada, @raseemaalam
Encourage regular dialogue between differnet players: In Kosovo, the Kosovar Womens’ Network regularly brief Nato’s Kosovo commander on security developments and concerns. These models help us to be more aware, and more transparent. They may also lead the way to demonstrate that civil society is not a threat but an asset. Marriët Schuurman, special representative on women, peace and security, Nato, Brussels, Belgium, @MarrietS
But do hold civil society groups accountable: Because non-state actors directly engage with international donors, they often work as a substitute for the government rather than as a partner in the complex process of post-conflict development. This is a problem especially as governments are held accountable for executing sound policies and for implementing development programme using the funds provided in an accountable manner. How can we keep CSOs equally accountable? Mustafa Awad by email
Think longterm: From our work in Fiji we learned from the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement the power of perseverance and the importance of bringing together women from diverse backgrounds around a common agenda for change. After a military coup in 2006, they played a vital role in assisting Fiji in progressing from a military regime to a peace one. Fiji’s first elections since the coup in 2014 saw the highest proportion of women elected to parliament in Fiji’s history. Andy Carl, executive director, Conciliation Resources, London, @CRbuildpeace
Don’t lose hope: Afghan women have demonstrated that civil society engagement can make a difference. In the last months, we’ve seen a deliberate increase of female participation in many public positions. The high turnout of women in the last election has clearly fostered this new political commitment for women’s rights and participation. And the high turnout of women, has been possible thanks to the constant advocacy of civil societies and ensuring a safe environment for women to come out and vote. Marriët Schuurman
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