Chemonics: Peacebuilding is access to resources

We can never impose peace upon people. For peace to last, it needs to be something that local communities believe in, and it needs to be tailored and led by local communities. This vision was at the heart of the Yemen Peacebuilding Programme, also known as Josoor, a four-year programme funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and led by Chemonics UK.

The impacts of the civil war in Yemen extend into wide-ranging aspects of daily life, and peacebuilding efforts need to reach far beyond negotiations over ceasefires. To give one example, in Yemen’s governorate of Taiz, Josoor helped resolve disputes over water, initiating dialogue between key groups about this vital, but scarce, resource. Elsewhere, Josoor established community committees to resolve disputes over land and fisheries. Initiatives like these not only improve communities’ access to resources, they enhance social cohesion and reduce local tensions, fostering the conditions for lasting peace.

Over three years, Josoor trained over 700 community members and supported over 88 community-based initiatives to address critical issues hindering peace in Yemen. The programme helped sow the seeds for future peacebuilding while empowering marginalised voices, including those of women and young people, to participate in peacebuilding activities.

For more information, watch this short video.