Owens for City Council 2024’s Post

Harnessing the Power of Faith and Community in Peacebuilding I recently had the pleasure of hosting Paulo, Secretary General of the Community of Sant’Egidio, and his colleague Mario at a meeting I facilitated in Nairobi. Their insights into mediating armed conflicts were truly inspiring, underscoring the critical role that faith-based institutions can play in peacebuilding efforts globally. Paulo and Mario shared powerful examples from their work in conflict zones like Angola and Mozambique, where faith leaders and institutions stepped in to mediate, heal divides, and build trust. They demonstrated that citizens can be more than passive observers in peace processes, bridging the gap between warring factions and creating pathways for dialogue when official negotiations stall. This conversation reinforced my belief that holistic, community-driven approaches, especially those involving trusted faith leaders are key to sustainable peace. Now more than ever, we need to invest in initiatives that bring together civil society, grassroots actors, and faith institutions to mediate conflict and foster reconciliation. These insights show the need for strategic support for innovative mediation models that tap into the influence of community leaders. Looking forward to continued collaboration to unlock the potential of faith and community-led peacebuilding! Inclusive Peace #Mediation #Peacebuilding #CommunityLedChange #FaithInAction #ConflictResolution #CollectiveActionForPeace

 📣 Within The Platform for Libya's Future project, Luiss Mediterranean Platform is supporting and contributing to the Libyan-led, inclusive, grassroots dialogue process led by the Peace Makers Libya team and funded by the European Union in Libya / الإتحاد الأوروبي في ليبيا.    Since 2015, Peace Makers Libya has worked to promote national reconciliation by mediating discussions of critical political and policy issues between a broad range of Libyan stakeholders. Over the past year, Peace Makers Libya has played a key role in facilitating and promoting a "Multi-Track Roadmap for Relaunching the Libyan Political Process". The initiative has gradually gained traction inside and outside Libya. 📖 Learn more about the Luiss Platform for Libya's future and Peace Makers Libya's mediation efforts at https://bit.ly/3O6OUs1.     #LibyaDialoguePlatformProject       #LibyaFuturePlatform        #LuissMediterraneanPlatform        #LuissSchoolofGovernment  

National building requires work and hope… in that order.

The Luiss Mediterranean Platform is supporting dialogue and mediation initiatives by the #PeaceMakersLibya team. Their efforts to encourage Libyan political and civil forces to come together and design a concrete way out of the continuing conflict are of utmost importance in the current context. Luiss School of Government European Union in Libya

All the parties have made a commitment to respect the constitution and to promote accountable and transparent governance, evidence-based policy and decision-making, the professionalisation of the public service, integrity, and good governance. The incoming government will prioritise rapid, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and the creation of a more just society by tackling poverty and inequality. It will continue the economic reforms that are underway in key industries like electricity, telecommunications, water, and transport. The new administration will build on the progress that has already been made in the drive for greater investment in infrastructure and an improved environment for business https://bit.ly/3VEoj8A

The real problem with the UN’s agency for Palestinians | Middle East & Africa via The Economist The real problem with the UN’s agency for Palestinians | Middle East & Africa via The Economist https://ift.tt/sASdOj0

Great summary of South Africa's 2024 #electionresults by City Press. With the ANC at 40%, they essentially have three coalition options to achieve the >50% required: 1. A coalition with the DA (21%) 2. A coalition with MK (14%) 3. A coalition with the EFF (9%) and several smaller parties

😃 Excited to unveil my NOHA Master's thesis findings in an engaging article, thanks to the Anticipation Hub! Explore the fusion of humanitarian principles and anticipatory action for conflict forecasts in Kenya and Nigeria. Click below to dive in! 📚✨ #Research #HumanitarianAction #ConflictForecasts #AnticipatoryAction

I've been seeing a lot of talk on #decolonizingaid recently, also talked about it with Silva Ferretti on the last episode of the ReThink Social Change podcast. Guess the dreadful and inhuman war on Gaza is mirroring back to us our imbalances and the many faces of colonization🤷🏻♀️ Anyway, finally got around to reading this publication that comes to us from the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). It's built on a historical review into the colonial legacy in contemporary development practices. A legacy that is visible in language (1), funding practices (2), partnerships (3) and human resource management (4). This paper analyzed each of these factors, identified the #powerdynamics at play and described the ‘colonial’ practices that guide the so called #partnerships . Chapter 4 offers useful and insightful pathways for improving the entire ecosystem. 💡I think the crux of the matter lies in the mindsets on each side, and I also think that reflections that these kind of papers offer, help to level the playing field. You should skim through it if you care!

The design of aid programmes is overwhelmingly rooted in Western values and knowledge systems, which means that many programmes inadvertently create a norm based on Western values and practices that communities in the Global South must adhere to. Interesting read, for anyone who is in the sector, particularly active in the fundraising and working with different types of donors (whatever the type: public, private, philanthropy).