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Justice and peace actors as catalysts of change

Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

“Relationships between citizens and government were built from the beginning of the project.” — Nicholas Etyang, CAFOD

7

early warning teams in Samburu County track and share information on security issues

700

advocacy group members using the GIS maps to support their work

Start date
June 2014
End date
April 2016
Period: 23 months

Issue

In northern Kenya and north-eastern Uganda, conflict has damaged the relationship between government and citizens. Tribal divisions and unresolved historical injustices have contributed to a legacy of violent conflict, and women in particular suffer the consequences, finding themselves denied opportunities for progressing in formal education and economic development.

As a result of these tensions, marginalised groups, including pastoralists, ethnic minorities and women in all groups participate less in public life, and are excluded from decision-making processes in their own communities.

Project

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development is working to improve the participation of marginalised groups in local government decision-making, and to strengthen conflict early warning and response systems in these regions.

The project team uses digital maps to monitor access to key government services – including livestock management, health and education - and works with local government and community-based partners, to include this data on the needs and experiences of ordinary people in discussions about provision of essential services.

The team also supports the government’s capacity to respond to signs of conflict, using GIS to map incidences of potential conflict. This data helps inform community-led conflict mitigation and resolution efforts, and supports the Justice and Peace Commissions’ work improving local governments’ response to conflict.

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