Introduction
In 2019, PSA/CPD and SSF is implementing Galkayo Joint Peace-building Initiative Project. The project objective is to enhance community capacity to prevent, resolve and contain destructive conflicts through establishment of effective and integrated community management and dispute settlement mechanisms in Galkayo that will ensure communities residing in both north and south coexist peacefully and harmoniously.
In regard to the project envisaged outcomes and on the need of enabling women, youth and Media play an integral role in peace initiative, on 20th June 2019 at Hotel Suguule, CPD/PSA held an engagement meeting attended by 30 participants from youth, women and Media peace activists groups drawn from both sides of the district.
Main Agendas discussion and action Points agreed
CPD/PSA briefed the meeting’s participants on the project’s objectives, expected results and main activities, also during the meeting, youth, women and media roles in the upcoming project were discussed and laid out.
Also during the event, CPD/PSA sensitized and educated the participants on the importance and significance of peace and its correlation to the development and economic progress of the area.
In addition, CPD/PSA informed the participants on their specific roles and key responsibilities in the whole project, for instance the roles of youth assemblies, women caucuses and radio/media talk shows, each group of participants was reminded that much is expected of them and that the success of the project will depend solely on their collective roles both direct and indirect in all aspects of the project.
Approach
The purpose of the engagement was to intentionally solicit input from the participants and accomplish the goal of equitable engagement to the team. Engagement efforts were conducted with a focus on equity to connect with a broader cross-section of the participants. Efforts included collaborating closely with the three target groups around Galckayo to make them contribute their ideas and insights to the plan, including sharing their experiences for the project.
Objective
- An exchange of views and opinions to explore different perspectives, needs and alternatives, with a view to fostering mutual understanding, trust and cooperation on the project strategies.
- To gather information or advice from the 3 groups and take these views into account when making project decisions and/or setting targets and defining strategies.
- To builds and maintain constructive and sustainable relationships with target groups.
- Identify and prioritize what the needs and priorities for Community Planning should be
- Develop a consensus on various issues touching on the project.
Conclusion:
The event was of much success where the 3 groups committed themselves to the project and promised to diligently play their respective roles, it was also agreed that several other follow-up review meetings will be conducted from time to time as a way of ensuring all the agreed points are on course and adhered to.