Peace action projects (PAPs) are grassroots community-level initiatives led by peacebuilders across Pakistan to address issues that contribute to social divides within their communities. A total of 130 peace action projects have been conducted, including awareness seminars, capacity-building workshops and training, theatrical performances, sports events, painting exhibitions, digital campaigns, policymaking and advocacy, among others.
Peacebuilding encompasses conflict prevention, management, resolution, transformation, and post-conflict reconciliation. It becomes strategic when it operates over the long term and across all levels of society, establishing and sustaining relationships among local community members.
Through the implementation of PAPs, we strengthen the ability of women and their male supporters to reduce the influence of extremist ideologies and narratives that generate significant insecurity and violence across Pakistan. These programs build upon the community’s voice and action.
To achieve action plans specific to each participant’s community impact goals, we divide the project planning phase into the following steps:
- Conceptualization of PAPs
During training, as participants expand their self-conceptualization capacities and influence as peacebuilders, they are provided a concept paper sample to help them develop action plans for virtual or in-person community activities. The concept paper is a guideline for them to form their ideas into a concrete plan. Once the concept papers are received from the participants, we work with them to make sure that their activities align with their experience and are linked with the program’s overall objectives. Furthermore, we help ensure the action plans are sustainable in their own capacities. - Mentoring
To make sure peacebuilders’ actions are well tailored for specific audiences and focused on the program’s objectives, one-on-one mentoring sessions are conducted with all participants throughout the process. The sessions are specifically held to support participants in drafting their Implementation Paper (IPs). During mentoring, it is further made sure that the activities reach key audiences and offer different ways of providing decision-making opportunities to women in shaping, growing, and maintaining community wellbeing. - Development of Implementation Papers
After one-on-one mentoring sessions, each participant drafts an implementation paper for their peace action plan. The main objective of this is to have a documented explanation of the project’s purpose, roadmap, and its connection with peace and peacebuilding. The document incorporates the theme and sub-theme to identify the social problem around which the activity is designed. IP also supports participants by its stepwise distribution of pre-activity, during-activity, and post-activity actions.
Implementation Papers (IPs)
Pre-planning & Preparation
Planning is a vital part of any project, especially peace action projects. Using the implementation plan, peacebuilders line up their projects. For in-person events, this includes locking speakers/trainers, finalizing the venue, arranging refreshments, designing IEC, and promoting the event. Online events include either locking experts in webinars or trainers and participants for online workshops. The implementation plan grants them the ability to visualize their event and identify gaps (if any) that needed to be filled.
The peacebuilders start with the publicity IEC material required for their program including promotional posters, banners/backdrops, standees, and identification cards. This material is circulated in their community groups to gather attendees.
Monitoring
After the pre-plan activities are complete, we remain on standby for support and facilitation wherever needed by the peacebuilder. Last-minute assistance generally entails suggestions relating to venue arrangement, souvenirs, refreshments, etc. The team also surveils the events digitally to ensure they would be completed smoothly without any hiccups.
To observe the final product of the activity, please refer to the gallery shared below:
