RESTRUCTURING PEACE COMMITTEES TO INCLUDE WOMEN AND MINORITY CLANS

The Deris Wanaag Project has taken a transformative step in peacebuilding by restructuring local Peace Committees to be more inclusive and representative of the communities they serve. Traditionally, these committees were male-dominated and clan-centric, leaving out women, youth, and minority clans—groups that are deeply affected by conflict yet have historically been excluded from decision-making processes.

Through consultative forums, advocacy, and capacity-building, USDI has reshaped the structure and mandate of Peace Committees, ensuring that they reflect the diverse voices of the communities they represent.

Challenges in the Traditional Peace Committee Structure

Before restructuring, Peace Committees in Liboi, Dhobley, Amuma, and Waraq had several structural weaknesses that limited their effectiveness:

1. Lack of Representation for Women and Minority Clans

• Men from dominant clans held most, if not all, leadership positions.
• Women, despite being directly affected by conflict, had no formal role in peace dialogues.
• Minority clans had little to no influence, leading to biased conflict resolution outcomes that often-favored dominant clans.

2. Clan-Based Decision-Making and Bias

• Traditional peace structures often prioritized clan interests over impartial justice.
• Minority groups and women struggled to have their grievances addressed fairly.
• In many cases, decisions favored those with strong clan backing, leaving marginalized groups without a voice in conflict resolution processes.

3. Exclusion of Youth in Peace Processes

• Youth, who are often the most affected by conflict (both as victims and sometimes as perpetrators), were rarely involved in peace discussions.
• Without youth participation, peace efforts lacked sustainability because young people felt disconnected from decision-making structures.

4. Weak Coordination and Capacity Gaps

• Many Peace Committees operated informally, with no clear structure or coordination mechanisms.
• Members had limited conflict resolution skills, relying mostly on traditional mediation methods, which were sometimes ineffective in addressing complex cross-border conflicts.

USDI’s Intervention: Restructuring and Strengthening Peace Committees

To create more inclusive and effective Peace Committees, USDI implemented a multi-step approach:

1. Convening Consultative Forums for Stakeholder Engagement

USDI held four consultative forums in:
📍 Liboi
📍 Dhobley
📍 Amuma
📍 Waraq

These forums brought together 20 participants per session, including:
✔️ Existing Peace Committee members
✔️ Representatives from women’s groups
✔️ Youth leaders
✔️ Minority clan representatives
✔️ Local authorities and security personnel

The goal of these discussions was to:
🔹 Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the existing Peace Committees.
🔹 Identify barriers to inclusion for women, youth, and minority groups.
🔹 Gather community perspectives on how Peace Committees should be restructured.

2. Restructuring to Include Women, Youth, and Minority Clans

Following the consultative meetings, Peace Committees were restructured with the following key changes:

✅ Mandatory Inclusion of Women: Each Peace Committee must now have at least 30% female representation in leadership and decision-making roles.
✅ Representation of Minority Clans: Seats were reserved for members from marginalized clans to ensure fair participation.
✅ Youth Engagement: Young people were included in advisory roles and given training in peace mediation techniques.
✅ Gender-Sensitive Conflict Resolution: Training sessions emphasized the unique impact of conflict on women and girls, ensuring their concerns are addressed in mediation efforts.

3. Capacity-Building for Peace Committee Members

To ensure the newly structured Peace Committees were equipped to handle conflicts effectively, USDI conducted specialized training covering:
🔸 Conflict resolution and negotiation skills
🔸 Gender-responsive peacebuilding approaches
🔸 Early warning and early response systems
🔸 Trauma healing and psychosocial support in peace processes
🔸 Legal frameworks governing peace and security

These training sessions enhanced the effectiveness of Peace Committees in addressing disputes fairly and inclusively.

4. Establishing Coordination with Security Forces and Local Governments

To strengthen peacebuilding efforts, the restructured Peace Committees were linked with:
✔️ Community policing units to ensure better collaboration with law enforcement.
✔️ Local government officials to formalize their role in dispute resolution.
✔️ Cross-border peace networks to facilitate dialogue with neighboring communities in Somalia.

Impact of the Restructured Peace Committees

1. Women’s Active Participation in Peacebuilding

• Women are now recognized as key actors in peace processes, leading mediation efforts and addressing gender-specific security concerns.
• In Waraq, a female Peace Committee member successfully mediated a family dispute that could have escalated into an inter-clan conflict.

2. Improved Representation for Minority Clans

• Minority clan members now have a seat at the table, ensuring that peace agreements reflect the interests of all communities.
• In Dhobley, a minority clan representative played a key role in resolving a land dispute that previously led to tensions.

3. Youth Engagement in Peace and Security

• Young people are now actively involved in peace dialogues and conflict resolution processes.
• Some youth representatives have launched peer-led peace initiatives, such as sports for peace events, to promote unity among different clans.

4. Stronger Community-Police Relations

• The restructured Peace Committees have built trust between communities and security forces, leading to faster response times to security threats.
• In Amuma, a coordinated peace intervention prevented the escalation of a livestock theft incident that could have led to violence.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

Challenges Encountered

❌ Resistance to Change: Some male-dominated Peace Committees initially opposed women’s inclusion, fearing it would weaken their authority.
❌ Youth Disillusionment: Some young people were skeptical about whether their voices would truly be heard in peacebuilding processes.
❌ Security Concerns: Peace Committee members faced risks when addressing sensitive disputes, especially those involving cross-border criminal activities.

Lessons Learned and Solutions

✅ Community Sensitization: Engaging religious leaders and elders helped shift attitudes in favor of women’s and youth participation.
✅ Empowering Youth-Led Initiatives: Creating youth-led peace forums ensured that young people felt ownership of the process.
✅ Strengthening Protection for Peacebuilders: USDI is working with local authorities to enhance security measures for Peace Committee members.

Inclusive Peace Committees as a Sustainable Conflict Resolution Tool

By restructuring Peace Committees to include women, youth, and minority clans, USDI has:
✔️ Made peace processes more inclusive and representative.
✔️ Improved trust and collaboration between different communities.
✔️ Strengthened local conflict resolution mechanisms, reducing reliance on external interventions.

The newly structured Peace Committees are now better equipped to handle disputes fairly, transparently, and effectively, contributing to long-term peace and stability in the region.