In the midst of violence and conflict, it can be hard to imagine a future of peace and understanding. Yet, one project in Somalia is proving that even the deepest wounds can heal with the right approach. The Nabadoon project, implemented by CPD, is offering hope for healing and reconciliation in a deeply divided community.

Communities in Warshiekh and Afgooye District, South Central Somalia, had been torn apart by years of violent conflict leading to fear and mistrust between different ethnic groups. CPD rolled out a peace building initiative in the two districts using its Binding, Bonding and Bridging (3Bs) approach to conflict resolution.  The 3Bs model has been CPD’s trademark community-centric peacebuilding strategy that proved success in past programs.

For Afgoi and Warsheikh, the 3Bs approach provided a safe and supportive space for participants to share their experiences and hopes for the future. Individual reflection (binding), single-identity group work (bonding), and inter-community face-to-face interaction (bridging) helped to overcome deep-seated mistrust and built bridges across ethnic lines. Community members who had lost loved ones and lived through the trauma of conflict, found common ground and a renewed sense of hope for the future.

Compelling evidence emerged when two men from different ethnic communities who had lost family members in the conflict found themselves sitting next to each other in a single-identity and reflection group. Through sharing their stories and exploring their common hopes for the future, they were able to forge a bond and a commitment to work together towards a more peaceful and just society.

The engaged community members reported feeling more connected to their community and to each other, and a renewed sense of hope for the future. They also reported developing practical skills for conflict resolution and peacebuilding, which they were using in their daily lives to resolve disputes and promote understanding between different groups. A living testimony revealed that community members were able to overcome their prejudices and mistrust and to recognize the humanity and shared aspirations of their fellow community members.

CPD plans to replicate this building-peace and social cohesion success in other conflict-prone is South West and Hirshabele States in Somalia.

Conflicts and insecurity are the major threats bedeviling the country ever since the collapse of the central government in 1991 and remain the barriers to development. Somalia is ranked low is almost of spheres of the Human Development Index (HDI) and is also one of the epicenters of climate-induced disasters like famine, floods, droughts and tropical cyclones. The correlation between climate change and conflicts, more so in fragile countries like Somalia is becoming more evident by the year.

With over 70% of the country’s population being under the age of 35 years- a generation that hasn’t never known a functioning government/state and remains at high risk of engaging in conflict and criminal activities, the search for a lasting peace is a priority for CPD and other peace actors in the country.