Trust2Peace Activity

PURPOSE OF ACTIVITY

The Trust2Peace Activity complements other USAID/Ghana peacebuilding programs by working with some communities in northern Ghana to improve relationships between potentially conflicting groups, build social trust, and equip citizens with skills to resolve conflicts, promote peace, and prevent violent extremism.

OBJECTIVES

• Maintain peaceful communities.
• Ensure citizens adopt mechanisms to prevent and respond to conflict.
• Prevent violent extremism.

GEOGRAPHICAL FOCUS

Across northern Ghana including conflict hotspots such as:

• North East Region - Chereponi, and Bukrugu;
• Northern Region - Bimbila, Mion, Nanton and Karaga;
• Savannah Region - Damongo, Bole, and Sawla Tuna Kalba;
• Upper East Region - Doba-Kandiga, Nangodi, Gana-Kolgo, Bawku and Bolgatanga;
• Upper West Region - Kaha-Uboh, Kperisi and Goli, Sombo, Nandom, Fuelmuo, and Hamile.

KEY INTERVENTIONS

Community Values Workshops (CVW)

Trust2Peace will use CVWs to improve intra-communal cohesion by bringing together influential religious and opinion leaders, traditional authorities, and representatives from youth and women's groups to identify and discuss their shared values and how these values support the development of their communities. They will also deliberate on the causes of divisions and conflicts among them and how best to resolve these. During the workshops, the participants will put together action plans to share the workshop findings and recommendations with their peers, ensuring the information reaches the wider community.

Simulation-Based Dialogues (SBDs)

SBDs bring together groups of 25-30 community members from different backgrounds (ethnic, religious, gender, etc.) to brainstorm solutions to simulated community challenges. These challenges largely mirror actual community disputes, incorporating anticipated push backs.

Civic Education, Engagement, and Athletics (CEEA)

CEEA focuses on using popular sporting activities like soccer to bring together women and youth from different backgrounds to form multiethnic/inter-religious teams and work together toward a common goal - winning the game. The youth will also be trained in civic education, collective problem solving, and peacebuilding. This will establish foundations for socialization, team-oriented cooperation, and peaceful dispute settlement.

EXPECTED RESULTS

• Reduced identity-based conflicts over time.
• Inclusion of women and youth in peacebuilding.
• Increased use of nonviolent conflict resolution methods.