The European Union is supporting the peace-building process in Plateau State through a programme aimed at conflict prevention and economic development.
The programme, tagged: Support to Peace-Building and Conflict Prevention in Plateau State, Nigeria, is funded by the EU through its Instrument for Stability and seeks to contribute to the peace-building process in the state by rallying support to strengthen the framework for peace as well as promoting peace and stability through economic development in the state.
Under the programme, three separate but complementary projects are being implemented by EU’s implementing partners – Apurimac Onlus, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GmBH and Search for Common Ground.
The project, implemented by Apurimac Onlus, has four main focus areas:
Peace Education through trainings for teachers, school administrators, Parents-Teachers Association, lecturers and students, as well as development of manuals for peace education and peace club to be used in all secondary schools across the state;
Enhancing reconciliation between the communities in conflict and also victims of violence through trainings and creation of a trauma centre in Jos. This phase of the project will centre on identification, rehabilitation and re-integration of both victims and perpetrators of conflict;
Re-enforcing existing vocational centres in Jos North, Jos South as well as the establishment of a new vocational centre in Tunkus, in Mikang LGA of Southern Plateau State; using entrepreneurship skill development to mitigate poverty, conflict, unemployment and promote right relationship and community cohesion; and
Impacting the media and social operators through trainings for media practitioners on constructive reportage as well as media campaigns for peace.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmBH is focusing on contributing to the Economic Development for Peace and Stability in Plateau State.
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to conflict reduction and improved peace and stability in Plateau State through employment creation and increased income. It has four components:
Financial Literacy, financial inclusion as well as improving access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises;
Capacity-building for NGOs and lobby groups with regards to advocacy on economic development particularly related to peace and security and entrepreneurship training for youth and women;
Improving public-private dialogue for local economic development; and
Increasing productivity and processing in the potato value chain.
This project is closely linked to the Pro-poor Growth and Promotion of Employment in Nigeria Programme, which has been operating in Plateau State since April 2011 in the promotion of MSMEs.
Search for Common Ground will support the development of a “Peace Architecture” in four interrelated initiatives.
First, it will focus on supporting confidence-building, mediation and reconciliation efforts that can reduce tensions, polarization and the overall level of violence in deeply divided areas.
Second, SFCG will invest efforts in building the capacity of key local stakeholders, including civil society, religious and community leaders and public institutions, to prevent or mitigate future conflict and reduce the risk of manipulation.
Third, it will focus on increasing linkages between civil society, security and the state government in order to have a coherent and holistic response to conflict dynamics.
Fourth, it will support increased participation and inclusiveness for alternative and marginalized groups, including women and children, not only as victims of conflict but as drivers of peace.
The IFS projects will be implemented across 14 LGAs in Plateau State with the entire state as the final beneficiary.
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