“Political engagement requires active participation rather than relying on favours. Women should start by getting involved in political activism within political parties and their local communities. This way, when positions are distributed, they are considered for these roles," said Castro Kambulu, an elected representative from Kasai province. Kambulu's statement highlights the challenges faced in promoting gender integration and female leadership. This comment followed a political dialogue held in Tshikapa in May, organised by the Action for Peace and Concord (APC) in partnership with Interpeace and in collaboration with the provincial government. The meeting aimed to implement the project "Strengthening Women and Girls' Leadership for Peace Consolidation in Kasai and Kasai Central" in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), funded by the United Nations Secretary-General's Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).
Led primarily by women, this dialogue provided an opportunity for the 65 participants, including 27 women, to create an action plan for the upcoming elections scheduled later this year. The plan includes a campaign to disseminate texts safeguarding women's and young girls' rights as well as advocacy efforts to ensure gender parity in decision-making positions. Similar strategies will be employed with traditional authorities to eliminate practises that hinder women's participation in politics.
The coordinator of the Binadamu Foundation in action emphasised that leaders and parliamentarians at the provincial level must support this cause by passing policies that promote women's rights. However, the provincial minister of transport and public works, Marie Kinda Kumambange, urged women to take charge of their own destinies, criticising a passive and victimised mindset among some women. She encouraged them to become fighters and refrain from complaining.
During the dialogue, discussions also revolved around legal instruments for promoting women's and girls' rights, such as United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250, specific provisions of the family code and parity law, the Constitution of the DRC, labour laws, and gender-based violence. Working groups were formed to develop a roadmap outlining practical solutions to enhance women's and girls' political involvement at both the provincial and national levels. Participants included provincial deputies, members of the Kasai provincial government, representatives from United Nations agencies, social actors, international organisations, certain traditional authorities, and delegates from civil society organisations.
Finance for Peace, the leading global initiative dedicated to creating norms, standards, research and knowledge to promote investment approaches aimed at fostering peace, is excited to announce the launch of a call for expressions of interest for its Peace Finance Standards Committee (the Standards Committee). The Standards Committee will play a crucial role in developing and promoting Peace Bond Standards as well as Peace Equity Standards that will enable finance to make a positive impact on peace.
“This is a win-win for the finance and peace sectors. We have the best possible finance sector advisors supporting us, growing government support, and we are creating a step-change towards better financial returns and peace outcomes. This initiative is an innovative solution: it brings together private finance and peace at a time when conflicts are on the rise and traditional sources of funding for peace are not meeting the need”, said Simon Gimson, Acting President of Interpeace.
“Peace is a global public good. The aim of the Peace Finance Impact Framework and the Peace Finance Standard is to support and scale more responsible and peace-enhancing investment by the finance sector. And we are now creating a Standards Committee to ensure that the Peace Finance Standard remains internationally credible, evolves with the finance sector’s needs, stands the test of time, and works for both the finance sector and peacebuilders”, Mr Gimson said.
Fiona Reynolds, Strategic Advisor to Finance for Peace, said: "We are thrilled to launch this call for expressions of interest for our Standards Committee, alongside version 2 of the Peace Finance Impact Framework. By assembling a diverse group of accomplished professionals, we aim to develop robust standards that will inspire the integration of peace and peacebuilding principles into financial investment.”
The Standards Committee will bring together accomplished professionals with diverse expertise in finance, investment, sustainability, development and peacebuilding. The Committee will play a crucial role as part of the Finance for Peace initiative, guiding the development of comprehensive Peace Bond and Equity Standards that will promote and create the conditions where capital works for more peaceful, just and fair outcomes.
The call for expressions of interest invites individuals who are passionate about leveraging the power of finance to foster peace to apply for a position on the Standards Committee. Successful candidates will possess an understanding of the intersection between business, investment, development and peacebuilding, along with a track record of exemplary leadership in their respective field. Interested individuals are invited to review the eligibility criteria and application process. The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is 30 August 2023.
The Standards Committee will be composed of an equal mix of representatives from various fields, including the finance and investment sector, as well as the development, peacebuilding and academic fields.
The Standards Committee will iterate, improve and provide strategic advice on the Peace Finance Impact Framework (PFIF) as well as the Peace Finance Standard (PFS) which have been updated to version 2, available here.
Peace Finance Impact Framework and Peace Finance Standard
The Peace Finance Impact Framework and Peace Finance Standard have been developed in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders from private finance, banking, development finance, impact investment, civil society as well as peacebuilding and development sectors.
The PFIF is a voluntary framework that guides government donors, development finance institutions, private asset managers, banks, and investors as well as peace actors on how investment approaches can realise rigorous and benchmarked peace impacts. By doing so, PFIF-aligned investments can lower risks for investors as well as communities.
The PFIF sets out international best practice for labelling Peace Bonds and Peace Equity investments through a self-certification scheme called the Peace Finance Standard (PFS). The framework describes basic exclusionary criteria, a proposed process and partnership model of how investors can plan, implement, measure and verify peace impacts.
In addition, it suggests an intervention logic of how investors may generate additionality and better outcomes for communities. The PFS and PFIF help investors lower risks for both communities and investees by implementing peace and investment strategies that are better sensitised to political and social risks while also building greater trust, buy-in and certainty through more inclusive investment approaches.
The ongoing updating and strengthening of the PFIF and PFS is a collaborative effort that aims to ensure the framework aligns with the needs and aspirations of the finance, investment and peacebuilding sectors. It builds on significant mapping research that has been conducted by Finance for Peace and various other partners on the existing gaps in current investment frameworks and due diligence frameworks for investing in emerging and frontier markets.
The PFIF (version 2 is available here) is based on version 1 (available here) which was developed in September 2022 after several rounds of feedback and consultation with experts in sustainable investment, finance, peacebuilding, development and academia, and which was published after being presented during the Investing for Peace Conference in Berlin as part of Germany’s G7 Presidency in September 2022.
Further information
Why Peace Finance is needed and why new standards are critical
Currently, 1.8 billion people, almost a quarter of the world’s population, live in 57 fragile and conflict affected countries which are not meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, largely because of ongoing instability, violence and conflict.
Investment into these places is at a ten-year low and existing blended finance approaches are currently not bridging the gap. Feeding into this are poor market perceptions and evidence of systemic mispricing of risks which suppress the supply of scaled and bankable investments in fragile low-income settings. At the same time, there is broad evidence of private and public investment exacerbating conflict dynamics and failing to mitigate risks for investees and communities. Underpinning all this is a significant lack of fit-for-purpose market frameworks, guidance and incentives for public and private investors to help them proactively engage and properly mitigate risks in fragile and conflict affected settings.
There is a drastic need for new investing approaches that lower risks for communities as well as investors so capital can better work for peace. But this cannot happen without standards and benchmarks for peace impact that are trusted, rigorous and have wide stakeholder buy-in.
About Finance for Peace
Finance for Peace operates as a multistakeholder initiative incubated by Interpeace, a leading international organisation for peacebuilding headquartered in Geneva. Finance for Peace seeks to make systemic change in how investment supports peace in the world’s developing and fragile places through developing standards for peace finance, market intelligence, and new partnerships that can scale new peace finance approaches.
Peace Finance Standards Committee expressions of interest and terms of reference
Peace Finance Impact Framework
Interpeace recently organised a Good Peacebuilding in Practice Workshop in Geneva, where representatives from the humanitarian, development, human rights, and mental health sectors participated in an effort to tackle the most pressing issues in our field. During this two-day workshop, Interpeace colleagues were joined by over 25 participants from diverse corners of the peacebuilding sector with the aim of helping each other improve as practitioners through an honest exchange of knowledge and reflections.
In recent years, peacebuilders have put much emphasis on working with the development and humanitarian sectors to operationalize the sustaining peace agenda and to enhance the understanding of the ‘P’ within the HDP Nexus debate. Therefore, it was an opportune time to turn the magnifying glass on our own sector and ask: how are we doing? And more specifically, what can we, as peacebuilders, learn from other sectors in order to continue to grow and improve as practitioners in the peacebuilding field. In her opening remarks, Dr. Rebecca Brubaker, Interpeace’s Director of Policy, Learning and Advisory Services, stated that the two main goals of the workshop were “to have a frank and proactive intra-sector conversation about key debates in our field, and for this learning discussion to be directly informed by other sectors.”
The workshop was organized around three main themes. The first session centered on Accountability in Peacebuilding, paying particular focus to the ethical question of how peacebuilders are held to account by or on behalf of those most affected by their actions. Participants engaged with colleagues from the humanitarian sector on the accountability mechanisms and standards they have implemented, and discussed the different ways in which international and local actors, as well as peacebuilders could enhance accountability in peacebuilding. The second session focused on Balancing protection with connection needs, where participants from the psychological field used scenarios and models from their own practice and experience to trigger a discussion on how to balance connection with protection needs in peacebuilding. The third session looked at how principles of Neutrality and Impartiality inform peacebuilding practice. While principles are firmly established in the humanitarian and human rights sectors (albeit in different ways), peacebuilders often take a more pragmatic, case by case approach, and discussions centered on how different actors in the room consider impartiality and neutrality in resolving dilemmas that emerge in the field.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen peacebuilders and people coming from other sectors discussing and talking about the different principles and perspectives on impartiality and neutrality.” Charles Ndayiziga – Great Lakes Regional Representative, Interpeace
Participants expressed their enthusiasm for spending this time together to discuss and exchange ideas and experiences, as a way to strengthen and improve each other’s work. Interpeace hopes to continue the collaborative exploration of these topics in the future.
Inter-clan disputes between the Degodia and Garre tribes of Mandera County plagued the period from 2010 to 2015. This conflict claimed countless lives and led to livestock raiding and property destruction. In villages like Malkaruqa, Garse, and Yabicho, Garre farmers found themselves uprooted from their ancestral lands, their once-lush irrigation farms reduced to ruins, and their mango trees that had once adorned the landscape mercilessly cut down. Similarly, the Degodia communities were displaced from Banisa and Takaba, and each clan retreated to their own clan territories.
Despite this despair, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and Interpeace, recognising the urgent need for a ceasefire, initiated inter community dialogues within the conflict between the Garre and Degodia clans. These dialogues brought together a diverse group of individuals, under the guidance of a remarkable woman named Zahara Bashir Ali. Zahara, a member of the Board for the Network for Peace, Cohesion, and Heritage (NEPCOH) and an active participant in Interpeace's Kenya Programmes working group, processed a vision that transcended the conflict. When the Degodia clan proposed using her farm as a meeting ground for the two communities, Zahara saw an opportunity to unite the two communities.
The severe drought that afflicted the area and heightened tensions between the clans served as one of the initiatives' driving forces. Zahara realised that her farm, once abandoned and neglected, could become a catalyst for change. With determination in her heart, she accepted the proposal, opening her land to both the Garre and Degodia farmers. Zahara’s unwavering belief in the power of unity became the beacon of hope that the villagers yearned for. The neglected land was meticulously restored, and the once-destroyed irrigation system was painstakingly resurrected.
Both clans have agreed on a set of rules that govern the management of the farm. These rules encompass various aspects, ranging from the fair distribution of the farm to ensuring peaceful coexistence and providing protection against external threats. A committee, selected through mutual agreements, is responsible for overseeing the farm's operations, which is shared equally between the Garre and Degodia clans. To maintain consistency in measurement, the committee employs one person's foot as the standard unit of length, ensuring that no other individual measures the farm. Each member retains ownership of the produce they cultivate on the farm.
However, the collaboration has faced certain challenges, including limited farm space and the strain on key personnel involved in the day-to-day farm operations. Despite these obstacles, the farm currently accommodates approximately 53 residents. Efforts are underway to sustain and expand the collaboration in the future by institutionalising engagement and replicating the model in other areas such as Qalicha, Rhamu Dimtu, Garse and Malka Ruqa.
The collaboration has brought numerous benefits to both communities. It has ensured access to food, provided protection against external aggression, and fostered a close working relationship with local chiefs from both clans. Furthermore, its impact has extended beyond the borders of Yabicho. Displaced families on the Ethiopian side, who found themselves caught in the crossfire of the Garre-Degodia conflict, have regained hope through their involvement in accessing farming activities. The unity forged through this collaboration has rippled across vast distances, healing long-standing wounds.
Adopting best practises for inter-community collaboration in the creation and management of sustainable farming activities is crucial. These practises include trust-building, mobilisation of peace-minded farm owners, developing rules of engagement, crop management, creating agribusiness awareness, accessing markets and irrigation facilities, and developing entrepreneurship skills among farmers.
"This collaborative effort has the potential to impart invaluable lessons on resilience, social cohesion, and interdependence to other communities. The NCIC/Interpeace peacebuilding programme is looking to expand this farming initiative to Badasa and Songa villages in Marsabit," says Interpeace’s Kenya Country Representative, Hassan Ismail on the pressing need to replicate similar projects.
"Implementing similar projects in neighbouring villages can nurture a sense of interdependence between the Garre and Degodia clans in Mandera, contributing to a community-led process of reconciliation and post-conflict reconstruction, all while promoting sustainable farming practises."
We have been deeply saddened to learn of the death on 31 May 2023 of Dr. Agnes Abuom.
Dr. Abuom was a member of Interpeace’s global Governing Board since December 2019. Prior to that, from 2014 to 2019, she was a member of Interpeace’s affiliated Board for Eastern and Central Africa based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Born in Nandi Hills, northwest Kenya, in 1949, with family members who were Protestant, Catholic, Anglican, and Pentecostal, Agnes was committed throughout her life to ecumenism, economic justice, peace and reconciliation. She was President and subsequently the first woman Moderator of the World Council of Church’s Central Committee.
During the 1970s, Dr. Abuom studied in Sweden and was awarded a doctorate for her studies on the role of NGOs in development before she began working on refugee issues in Sudan. From 1989, after having been imprisoned for criticising the government, Dr. Abuom ran programmes on development and civic governance for the Anglican Church of Kenya. In 1997, she founded TAABCO, a research and development consultancy.
In Kenya and internationally, she championed cooperation and unity across religions, economic and gender justice for women, and peace.
“Agnes inspired a generation of peacebuilding by Interpeace, through her enthusiastic encouragement of our work and her wisdom and insightful advice,” said Simon Gimson, Acting President of Interpeace. “Her commitment to peacebuilding values, in word and deed, was always thoughtful and inclusive. Agnes was a powerful advocate for the voices of the voiceless in communities, and an enthusiastic supporter of practical peacebuilding action. Agnes is deeply missed and will always be remembered with warmth, affection and enduring appreciation by Interpeace.”
From everyone at Interpeace, we send our condolences to Agnes’ family, friends and colleagues across her many walks of life.
"The validation workshop for the 'public participation and data-driven problem-solving in policing' curriculum marks a crucial step in advancing the Ethiopian police service through the training set by the Ethiopian Police University (EPU.) This workshop empowers our trainees with the knowledge and skills to effectively engage the public in identifying community problems and then devise and implement solutions to those issues. By recognising the importance of collaborative problem-solving, we enhance community-police relations and ensure the safety of our citizens."Tamru*, a senior lecturer and trainer in police science at the EPU.
In a significant stride towards improving the police service and fostering collaboration, the Ethiopian Police University (EPU) and Interpeace signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MoU). As part of this partnership, a team of experts from both organisations developed a module "public participation and data-driven problem-solving in policing" on collaborative problem-solving that will be integrated into EPU's training programmes. This will equip police officers with the necessary skills to work collaboratively with communities and other stakeholders to solve complex problems. Recently, a validation workshop gathered 25 key stakeholders, including the president and vice president of EPU, academicians, and researchers, to assess the content and relevance of the curriculum, marking a crucial step towards transforming community-police relations and enhancing public safety.
Addressing historical gaps in fostering positive interactions between the community and the police
The Ethiopian police service has faced persistent challenges in effectively engaging the public and fostering their active and meaningful participation due to a history of mutual mistrust and hostility. The prevailing perception of the police as the sole entity responsible for addressing crime has hindered the integration of citizens' voices. Consequently, problem definition and priority-setting activities were exclusively carried out by the police department, while systematic approaches to analysing crime and safety-related concerns were limited or non-existent. Recognising the pressing need for change, the EPU, in partnership with Interpeace, endeavoured to bridge this historical gap by developing a pioneering curriculum module.
Collaborative problem-solving approach
The curriculum module focuses on collaborative problem-solving, incorporating data-driven methodologies, and leveraging Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. It equips police trainees with tools and knowledge to effectively engage with the public. Active community participation enables a broader perspective, addresses diverse community needs, and co-creates solutions to crime and safety challenges. This innovative approach heralds a new era of community-oriented policing in Ethiopia.
Significance of the validation workshop
The validation workshop served two key objectives. Firstly, it addressed the need for more technology-based collaborative problem-solving approaches in police training programmes. By integrating this module into EPU's curriculum, future police officers will be equipped with essential skills and knowledge for data-driven and participatory community engagement. Secondly, the workshop evaluated the module's content and relevance within the Ethiopian context, ensuring it meets the unique needs of communities and the police department.
Tamru*, a senior lecturer and trainer in police science at the EPU, emphasised the importance of integrating technology-based collaborative problem-solving approaches into training and education programmes. He views the validation workshop as a significant milestone, stating:
"This initiative is of utmost importance and timeliness in transforming our police service. It is widely acknowledged that the police alone cannot address all crime and safety-related concerns. However, I have observed significant challenges in fostering active public engagement in maintaining peace across different levels. This stems from the inadequacy of our current police education and training schemes to equip trainees with the necessary and up-to-date knowledge of collaborative problem-solving activities. Hence, this curriculum will be critical in helping our trainees realise the importance of engaging the public in effectively addressing crime and safety-related concerns.”
The validation workshop for the "public participation and data-driven problem-solving in policing" module is a defining moment for the Ethiopian police service. It showcases the commitment of the EPU to revolutionise police training, promote community engagement, and foster a safer society. Policymakers, police leadership, and donors must provide unwavering support for successful implementation of the trust-building community policing programme in Ethiopia. By embracing data-driven problem-solving and public participation, Ethiopia paves the way for a more inclusive, effective, and community-oriented police service.
*Names have been changed to protect the subjects’ identities.
