Interactive Media and Citizen- Driven Awareness on Existing Skills Training and Work Opportunities in Kakuma
October 12, 2017
Using Interactive Radio to Promote Effective Citizen Engagement for Sustainable Agriculture and Development in Western Kenya.
September 15, 2019In Somalia, violent extremism has been a pervasive problem for many years. The country has been plagued by numerous terrorist attacks, and many communities have been devastated by the violence. Terrorism has had a devastating impact on the country's social and economic development.
In response to this with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), People Centered Solutions (PCS) worked with Puntland Development & Research Centre (PDRC) to implement the Role of Women in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Puntland state in Somalia.
PCS in collaboration with PDRC engaged five radio stations in Puntland state to broadcast 5 interactive radio shows complimented with mini-dramas that aimed to raise awareness on how to enhance citizen participation, foster dialogue between citizens and decision makers, and boost women’s participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes at the local and national levels. The project targeted Puntland FMS.
Through a series of interactive radio shows and on-ground community engagement dialogues PCS collected data and analyzed it using mixed methods analysis providing insights on the different barriers and drivers that hinder or enable women to play a role in preventing and countering violent extremism in Somalia. Further the interactive multi-media campaign also created space for experts from government to create community-wide awareness while cementing the role of women in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) both at community and state levels.One of the program's major achievements was the creation of Women's Peace Committees in communities across Puntland state. These committees brought together women from diverse backgrounds, including clan elders, religious leaders, and youth representatives, to discuss the root causes of violent extremism and develop strategies to address them.
Through these committees, women were able to raise awareness about the dangers of violent extremism, promote tolerance and respect for diversity, and advocate for the inclusion of women in all aspects of society. They also played a critical role in mediating conflicts and preventing violence in their communities, often using their unique position as mothers and caregivers to reach out to young people who were at risk of being recruited by extremist groups.
As a result of the citizen engagement, women’s participation in decision-making processes at the local and state levels increased significantly including their voices being included in the development of national PCVE strategies and policies.
