ENGAGING COMMUNITIES FOR PEACE IN NIGERIA QUARTER 3 FY16

The program is being implemented in partnership with Mercy Corps and The Pastoral Resolve, and is focused on reducing violence in 20 farmer and pastoralist communities across the targeted states of Benue and Nasarawa. The program is built on three core theories of change that stress the importance of bringing people together to peacefully resolve shared challenges, and build relationships and economic interdependence. These are: 1) If key farmer and pastoralist leaders are given the skills and support needed to peacefully and collaboratively manage disputes, then inter-communal violence will decrease; 2) If farmers and pastoralists collaborate on quick-impact projects that demonstrate the benefits of cooperation and economic projects that address underlying tensions, then there will be an increase in positive interactions, thereby building trust and economic interdependence, while reducing violence; and 3) If farmers and pastoralists work together with surrounding communities and local government authorities to monitor and prevent conflict, then these communities will be better able to absorb and adapt to shocks and stressors in their environment. ECPN has made significant progress in its first year, with a total of 200 stakeholders benefiting from conflict mitigation trainings with USG assistance, and 154 of these stakeholders reporting a substantive role or position in a peacebuilding process supported with USG assistance. Additionally, 49 local women have participated in a substantive role or position in a peacebuilding process supported with USG assistance, representing 74% of the annual target. The program has also seen a 122% increase in the number of people participating in USG-supported events, trainings, or activities designed to build mass support for peace and reconciliation, with a total of 519 participants. Community Conflict Prevention Forums have been a key component of ECPN's activity implementation progress. In each target site, a minimum of 33 community leaders comprising of farmers, pastoralists, women, men, community peace committees/civilian joint task force (CJTF), youths, religious leaders and local government officials participated in a 1-day joint community-based conflict prevention forum. These forums provided a platform for communication and collaboration on ways to address the drivers of conflict identified during the community-led resource mapping exercises in an inclusive and participatory manner. A major outcome of the joint conflict prevention forums was the development of Conflict Prevention Plans by the conflicting communities, incorporating ways of mitigating identified natural resources-based drivers of conflict. The program has also seen the establishment of Community Peace Committees in most of the target sites to ensure the implementation of the developed conflict prevention plans. These committees will play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainability of the conflict prevention plans and the continued engagement of community leaders in the peacebuilding process. Overall, ECPN has made significant progress in its first year, and is well-positioned to continue its efforts to reduce violence in the Middle Belt states of Nigeria.