Geneva-based international peacebuilding organisation Interpeace has a new president as of Monday, October 2, 2023. Itonde Kakoma is a deeply experienced practitioner in peace mediation, conflict resolution and humanitarian diplomacy. He joins Interpeace from an appointment as Permanent Representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to the African Union, having had roles earlier with CMI -- Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, including as its Director for Global Strategy, and with the Carter Center in its Conflict Resolution Program.   Kakoma has also been a Global Fellow and Executive in Residence at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. Itonde Kakoma is a first generation American of East African descent.

“Itonde Kakoma is uniquely qualified and an exceptional leader. Interpeace’s Governing Board recognises the need to adapt peacebuilding to the rapidly changing global context of peace and security, and to bring on board a new leader for a new and challenging future. With Itonde’s experience and knowledge of peacebuilding policy and its practical application, I am confident that we have a new President for the future, who will take forward Interpeace and advance peacebuilding globally,” said Amre Moussa, Chair of the Interpeace Governing Board.

The Governing Board, with support from an international recruitment firm, Perrett Laver, led the nine-month global search to appoint Interpeace’s new President.

The early focus of Kakoma’s Presidency is expected to be on leading wide-ranging listening exercises and consultations on adaptations to the organisation’s current five-year Strategy, A Resilient Peace, and on building a forward-looking pathway for Interpeace from the foundation of its 30th anniversary in 2024. “Rooted in national ownership with an aim to influence global decision making fora, I am persuaded that Interpeace’s organisational vision and mandate are ever more relevant for addressing the multifaceted challenges of our world today and for the future of peacemaking” Kakoma said.

Interpeace is a strategic partner of the United Nations, with a representative of the UN Secretary-General serving on its Governing Board. The organisation has therefore been active in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and on strengthening linkages and creating greater impact and efficiency between peace, development and humanitarian actors. It is expected that Itonde Kakoma will also be focussed early in his term on key UN global processes including the contribution of Interpeace to the UN Summit of the Future in 2024 and the Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture in 2025.

“We know that no organisation can single-handedly tackle today’s deeply globalised peace and security challenges and the ways in which they manifest themselves in local communities worldwide. Partnerships between governments and organisations are crucial and these must be accountable to the people they serve. The international community, including humanitarian, development and peace actors, have a responsibility to rethink current approaches and utilise our collective assets,” Kakoma said.

As an international peacebuilding organisation, Interpeace has been at the forefront of creating practical local leadership, design and ownership of conflict resolution processes. Itonde Kakoma is therefore already planning to visit some of the countries where Interpeace is supporting local communities and national governments, beginning in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel regions.

“I am thrilled to be joining Interpeace, where the principles of empowering communities towards national ownership to ensure effective solutions to conflict and crisis is more than just a belief acquired over time – it is part of the organisation’s core identity.”

“We must make a reality of global commitments to women and youth, especially in peace and security but moving from norms to agency and impact. When women and young people are involved in decision-making, outcomes are better quality and more durable for entire communities,”  Kakoma added.

“Interpeace is marking 30 years of experience in accompanying states and communities to resolve conflict, build trust, and strengthen social cohesion. It has an equally long history of challenging established concepts in peace-making and developing new methods in service of the international community. Recent work to rethink overly-militarised stabilisation missions and to create new sources of finance for peace are examples of the global public goods that I look forward to supporting to create in the years ahead,” Kakoma said.

For questions or interview requests, please contact Interpeace head of Communications, Luvini Ranasinghe, ranasinghe@interpeace.org /tel. +41 79 475 64 95.

Interpeace

Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding. With almost 30 years of experience, it has implemented a broad range of peacebuilding programmes in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Interpeace tailors its approach to each society and ensures that its work is locally designed and driven. Interpeace also assists the international community – especially the United Nations – to play a more effective role in peacebuilding, based on Interpeace’s expertise in field-based work at grassroots level. Interpeace is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has offices around the world. For more information, please visit our website: www.interpeace.org

On Monday, 2 October 2023, a new President took the helm at Interpeace.

Itonde Kakoma is a deeply experienced practitioner in peace mediation, conflict resolution and humanitarian diplomacy. He joins Interpeace from an appointment as Permanent Representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to the African Union, having had roles earlier with CMI -- Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, including as its Director for Global Strategy, and with the Carter Center in its Conflict Resolution Program. He has also been an Executive in Residence and Global Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. Itonde Kakoma is a first generation American of East African descent.

“Itonde Kakoma is uniquely qualified and an exceptional leader. Interpeace’s Governing Board recognises the need to adapt peacebuilding to the rapidly changing global context of peace and security, and to bring on board a new leader for a new and challenging future. With Itonde’s experience and knowledge of peacebuilding policy and its practical application, I am confident that we have a new President for the future, who will take forward Interpeace and advance peacebuilding globally,” said Amre Moussa, Chair of the Interpeace Governing Board.

The Governing Board, with support from an international recruitment firm, Perrett Laver, led the nine-month global search to appoint Interpeace’s new President.

The early focus of Kakoma’s Presidency is expected to be on leading wide-ranging listening exercises and consultations on adaptations to the organisation’s current five-year Strategy, A Resilient Peace, and on building a forward-looking pathway for Interpeace from the foundation of its 30th anniversary in 2024. “Rooted in national ownership with an aim to influence global decision making fora, I am persuaded that Interpeace’s organisational vision and mandate are ever more relevant for addressing the multifaceted challenges of our world today and for the future of peacemaking,” Kakoma said.

Interpeace is a strategic partner of the United Nations, with a representative of the UN Secretary-General serving on its Governing Board. The organisation has therefore been active in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and on strengthening linkages and creating greater impact and efficiency between peace, development and humanitarian actors. It is expected that Itonde Kakoma will also be focussed early in his term on key UN global processes including the contribution of Interpeace to the UN Summit of the Future in 2024 and the Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture in 2025.

“We know that no organisation can single-handedly tackle today’s deeply globalised peace and security challenges and the ways in which they manifest themselves in local communities worldwide. Partnerships between governments and organisations are crucial and these must be accountable to the people they serve. The international community, including humanitarian, development and peace actors, have a responsibility to rethink current approaches and utilise our collective assets,” Kakoma said.

As an international peacebuilding organisation, Interpeace has been at the forefront of creating practical local leadership, design and ownership of conflict resolution processes. Itonde Kakoma is therefore already planning to visit some of the countries where Interpeace is supporting local communities and national governments, beginning in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel regions.

“I am thrilled to be joining Interpeace, where the principles of empowering communities towards national ownership to ensure effective solutions to conflict and crisis is more than just a belief acquired over time – it is part of the organisation’s core identity.”

“We must make a reality of global commitments to women and youth, especially in peace and security but moving from norms to agency and impact. When women and young people are involved in decision-making, outcomes are better quality and more durable for entire communities,” Kakoma added.

“Interpeace is marking 30 years of experience in accompanying states and communities to resolve conflict, build trust, and strengthen social cohesion. It has an equally long history of challenging established concepts in peace-making and developing new methods in service of the international community. Recent work to rethink overly-militarised stabilisation missions and to create new sources of finance for peace are examples of the global public goods that I look forward to supporting to create in the years ahead,” Kakoma said.

Africa's Great Lakes region has a complex history marked by periods of conflict, political instability and social challenges. In this context, young people have untapped potential as catalysts for positive change. Their ability to promote peace within the community rests not only on their unique qualities, but also on their determination to play an active part in building a better future. Recognizing, nurturing and supporting this potential is essential to building lasting peace and stability in the region.

Interpeace, in partnership with the Refugee Law Project, Centre for Conflict Alert and Prevention (CENAP), Never Again Rwanda (NAR), Action pour la Paix et la Concorde (APC), and the Pole Institute, trains young innovators aged 18 to 30 to take part in governance, peacebuilding, and development processes in Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The capacity-building and mentoring programme consists of three face-to-face sessions and two remote sessions. The young innovators, both men and women, are selected on their experience and commitment to launching positive peacebuilding initiatives in their communities and the wider region. The programme provides them with the tools and guidance to channel their creativity and translate innovative ideas into actionable projects.

In early August, young innovators from the Great Lakes region were in Kigali, Rwanda for a face-to-face mentorship training session. The innovators presented ideas to a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the partnering organisations, seeking grants to support their advocacy and social cohesion projects. This third face-to-face session also served as a platform for imparting vital skills such as trauma healing, community engagement, gender and conflict sensitivity in project management, and critical thinking. These skills will help them better implement and scale up their initiatives.

In the Great Lakes region, mental health problems are on the increase among young people. They are further exacerbated by the distinct experiences and circumstances resulting from past conflicts and current political turmoil. Recognising this pressing issue, the youth mentoring programme has incorporated a specialised session on mental health. Ndahiro Derrick Alte, a young innovator from Rwanda, mentored by NAR, acknowledged the impact the training had on him, “The third face-to-face training in Rwanda was a transformative experience that provided me with an opportunity to dig deeper into the complicated world of trauma, its causes, and the effect it has on individuals and communities. I have also been able to acquire knowledge and tools on how best to facilitate healing, both for myself and for others who are on the road to mental health recovery.”

The mental health session not only broadened the young people’s comprehension of trauma but also equipped them with practical tools and techniques to offer compassionate support to those in need of healing.

“I really enjoyed the training in Kigali! I learned that stress is different from trauma! And that stress can give us a boost, whereas trauma can hinder our personal development!

Therapy is the best way of dealing with trauma and enabling people to develop despite their traumatic experiences,” appreciated Judith Balerha, a young innovator from DRC, mentored by the Pole Institute.

The journey began with the first "face-to-face" session, where these people come together to acquire the essential general and technical skills needed to implement youth-led peace initiatives. The second "face-to-face" session proves to be a crucial point in the process. It involves fine-tuning the development of the initiative and drawing up strategic plans for the pilot projects. The second distance learning session marks an important step in this process. The partner organisations meticulously advise, support and refine the initiatives until they are ready for implementation. Each mentoring session builds on the progress made in previous sessions. The programme culminates in the third and final face-to-face training session, which culminates in the validation and funding of the young innovators' projects in the Great Lakes region.

Commenting on the importance of the scheme, Interpeace programme manager Salvadore Safari Shamaba stresses that the face-to-face training has enabled the young people to discuss the content of their initiatives and capitalise on each other's experiences to enrich them before they are validated.

"These initiatives will enable the young innovators involved in the regional programme to mobilise the region's youth and make them catalysts for lasting peace in the Great Lakes region. Thanks to this funding, these young innovators will implement activities aimed at strengthening social cohesion and capacities. They will present the results of these activities to the region's various technical and financial partners, encouraging them to promote youth-led initiatives in the Great Lakes region," said Mr Salvadore.

The Great Lakes programme, funded by the European Union and the Swiss Development Cooperation, is a testament to the resilience, innovation and unwavering dedication of young people in the four countries to successfully transform their communities. It is a story of collaboration, a journey of innovation and a vision realized through the spirit of youth empowerment.

"We were free to present our initiatives and defend them in front of our mentors. After several training sessions, we can now put what we've learned into practice. Our aim is to promote social cohesion in the Great Lakes region by bringing young people together around initiatives," said Françoise Mwiriri, a young innovator from the DRC sponsored by APC.

• Nilofar Ayoubi, women and human rights defender fromAfghanistan, journalist, CEO of Asiatimes.af
• César López, renowned Colombian musician and composer and social leader
• Nina Verdiane Niabodé, host and producer of Radio Ndeke Luka, Central African Republic (CAR)
• Maiwen Ngalueth, South Sudanese humanitarian and peace professional
• Sophia Stril-Rever, spiritual activist and teacher from France
• Cheick Fayçal Traoré, Burkina Faso, peacebuilding and development professional
• Alicia Sanders-Zakre,  nuclear disarmament researcher and activist and Research and Policy Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
• Special video screening of “Peace Begins With Me”, a creative collaboration between Congolese peacekeeper and musician Pacifique Akilimali and Nigerian peace advocate and poet Maryam Bukar Hassan
• Special video screening of “1.5 Degrees of Peace”, from Kasha Sequoia Slavner Gen Z activist and award-winning director
• A message on the International Day of Peace from António Guterres, ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Special remarks by Tatiana Valovaya, 13th Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva
• Closing remarks, Simon Gimson, Acting-President and Chief Operating Officer, Interpeace