For the last two decades, Guinea-Bissau has experienced major political turmoil, with successive coups and recurrent confrontations between political authorities and the military and within the political sphere. State dysfunctionality has a strong negative impact on the country’s society at large, as well as on international support to civil society, inhibiting sustainable peacebuilding and development. In 2007, Interpeace set up a peacebuilding programme in collaboration with a local partner, Voz di Paz. Through a national consultation process, Voz di Paz engaged over 6,000 Bissau-Guineans to identify the main obstacles to lasting peace in the country. Bissau-Guineans identified the lack of effective state institutions, political and institutional instability, poor administration of justice, social exclusion and a weak culture of dialogue as some of the root causes of conflict. As a result of this foundational study, the programme currently works in two main axes: conflict prevention and resolution and good governance.
Interpeace’s Programme in Guinea Bissau, implemented with its local partner Voz di Paz, aims to foster a more inclusive and trusted social contract for a peaceful society. The programme is built on three key pillars guiding its activities: Inclusive Basic Services, by improving access to quality services through better coordination and a shared understanding of barriers and solutions; Conflict Prevention & Management, by strengthening local conflict prevention and resolution through effective policies and capacity building; and Accountability, by fostering citizen engagement, institutional responsiveness, and dialogue, with a particular focus on youth participation.