CONTACT Africa Network - Africa

The project's first initiative involved building on the CONTACT programme that was established in 1996 as a three-week summer institute and a one-year certificate programme. Intense study, self-reflection, community-building and collaborative problem solving is offered to participants from various parts of the world, who come together to share their knowledge and experiences in dealing with conflict. During CONTACT 2001, a number of African participants and North American colleagues met to discuss how to create a CONTACT network whose goal is to develop programmes in Africa that promote peace.

On the basis of a needs assessment that was distributed by email to African CONTACT alumni, CONTACT planned and conducted an African-centred training of trainers workshop in peace building that included two or three African CONTACT alumni from each country. 36 trainers in peacebuilding were recruited from countries all across Africa. Organisations represented included the Council of Churches, CARE International, USAID, the World Bank. This week-long training session, which took place in January, 2002, focussed on an analysis of the roots of conflict, Africa-specific case studies, skill building, and means of developing a network of peacebuilders.

The network is in the construction phase. Its goal is to promote information and resource sharing, mutual support (social and professional), and learning. Conducted yearly, the "Peacebuilding in the African Context" workshop will be a requirement for entry of new participants into the CONTACT Africa network. In addition, an "Advanced Training Workshop" will be offered each year. The focus of this advanced training for 2003 will be facilitation, negotiation, mediation, regional case studies, and reconciliation and forgiveness. In order to develop training skills, graduates of this programme may be considered as teaching assistants for future workshops. Courses will be held in different countries and different regions each year.

Participants plan to develop a list serve and/or website, as well as a brochure or newsletter. Recruitment will be focussed on women, underrepresented countries, and regions and individuals from targeted NGOs. Another inititial priority of the network is to establish linkages and alliances with existing peace-building organisations and initiatives at sub-regional and regional levels.

Conflict.

Programme organisers note that, across the African continent, there are numerous examples of peacebuilding and conflict transformation efforts that have successfully resolved emerging crises and long-term conflicts. However, internal and external pressures, they claim, are rapidly increasing the number and severity of conflicts at country and sub-regional levels, outstripping the capacities of the current network of Africa-based peacebuilders.

Steering committee members are investigating costs and locations for CONTACT Africa 2003 with Cape Town, South Africa as a possible location.