Peace Building

Mandera County is situated in a region that is exposed to recurrent natural shocks coupled with long inter-clan conflict, insecurity, political instability and more recently the existence of terror attacks. The region is characterized by both internal and cross-border displacement of large parts of its population. Conflict is the root cause of food insecurity in Mandera County. It causes massive internal and cross-border displacement, preventing households from engaging in typical livelihood activities, and inhibits economic growth by hampering the extraction natural resources and disrupting markets and trade routes as well as limiting access and sharing of grazing resources. As a result, income-earning opportunities are limited leading to high rates of poverty. VOPA has so far implemented the following peace building activities

Peace Building and conflict transformation: This response was aimed at transforming conflict and destruction into a constructive force which produces social change, progressively removing or at least reduce the conditions from which the conflict or the violence arisen. VOPA organizes, Ceasefire/Rapid Response, civic education for peace, Peace dialogue, democracy and development to empower the civil society to take the initiative in the establishment of peace and good governance.

Inter- and intra-clan conflict: Along Kenya-Somalia international borders, a number of long-standing inter- and intra-clan conflict between various communities persisted. The conflict has been triggered by many factors such as proliferation of small arms, smuggling, human trafficking, business rivals and competition over the scarce resources. In a nutshell, the conflict in this region has easily escalated and turned in to fully fledged war that resulted to destruction of properties, lives lost and many left destitute. However, VOPA played significant role in facilitating peace dialogues that prompted ceasefire that has eventually leads to promoting social reconciliation process and signing of peace agreements. VOPA have so far been engaged in mediation between Garre-Marehan and Intra-Marehan conflicts in Elwak Somalia (Boruhache) in Gedo region in the past and have recorded series of peace agreements in collaboration with the local authorities. The project was funded by Peace II, BORDER I & II, SHIIR Program under PACT.

VOPA has implemented the following initiatives to achieve peace: -

• Cross Border Peace Building and Conflict Management with cross border peace partners
• Strengthening linkages between communities and local authorities
• Inter-clan/community peace engagement program
• Countering violent Extremism (CVE)
• Community capacity building and trauma healing program
• Countering gender based violence in all its forms and shapes.