In September 2019, 15 local peacemakers participated in a 3 week “Conflict Resolution Project Management Workshop” in Bria, to:

• Strengthen their existing capacity to resolve security issues; and
• Gain and practice project management skills to build their leadership and project management capacity.

Participants learned how to conduct a conflict analysis, plan a project, write an activity report, conduct monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and learned basic accounting and financial reporting skills. During that time, participants practiced collecting data in neighboring communities to inform the writing of a mock grant proposal for MINUSCA. Participants also facilitated a community mediation between an armed group and village chiefs regarding the sale of agricultural products.

The cohort discussed the social change they wanted to see in their communities and strategies for liberating oneselves from the dominant worldview driving individualism, competition and control. Participants examined inequalities, stereotypes, privilege and power globally and established internal operational systems around decision-making, resource management, feedback, information sharing and internal conflict engagement based on principles of inter-dependence, generosity and radical consent to create a world that works for all.