News Stream
The Big Give (08/09/11)Once again Concordis has been selected to participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Pledge to Concordis today and we can double your donation. We first need enough generous people to make a pledge of at least £100 towards our £10,000 target by 31st of October 2011. Your pledge, and pledges from other patrons, trustees and friends, will then be combined with funds from an external sponsor to match and double online donations from the public to Concordis International. To learn more click here or go directly to the Big Give website.
Cultural Healing (30/08/11) Concordis International’s Cultural Healing project has gained approval from the Sudanese Government. The first series will take place in Khartoum, hopefully this October. The project is a training programme promoting social cohesion and cultural awareness through learning and utilizing the media of film. It hopes, that by capturing and expressing different Sudanese cultures, bridges can be made and relationships sustained as Sudan embarks on a new chapter. To find out more click here.
Verdict on Consultation in Nairobi (22/08/11) Peter Dixon (CEO) and John Fenning (Intern) attended a Concordis consultation entitled Putting Land Grievances Behind in Kenya along with colleagues from ISAR and The Sychar Centre of Nairobi. Participants of the constructive dialogue focused on ethnic issues and constitutional provisions surrounding land issues. A high degree of consensus was said to be achieved and subject to further funding, Concordis hopes that - with its African partners - it can keep up the momentum. In addition to these resolutions, participants specified action plans to enhance confidence, security and communication across the border in the coming weeks and months. The two events were facilitated by Concordis International in partnership with the University of Juba Centre for Peace and Development Studies with support from the European Commission and the United States Agency for International Development. To read more about our work in Kenya click here.
Consultation in Nairobi on Land Grievances (04/08/11) Concordis are supporting a consultation on Kenyan land conflict entitled Putting Land Grievances Behind in Kenya in Nairobi on Tuesday 16th August. Participants from a range of geographical, religious, and professional backgrounds will come together to generate a better understanding of grievances related to land, and to aid the development of policies. Click here to find out more about Concordis in Kenya.
Concordis Talk at Advocates for International Development (A4ID) (18/07/11) At the A4ID AGM in May 2011 Richard King - acting CEO of the international NGO Concordis - gave a fascinating insight into the role that the law should play in the development of a newly independent South Sudan. As well as looking at the reasons for the referendum and the legal and governance challenges facing the country, he also highlighted the role of the international community in securing South Sudan’s future development. Please click here for the recording of the first part of his talk, and click here for more information on A4ID - Advocates for International Development.
Informing Strategies for Border Management (16/06/11) Concordis facilitated, together with the South Sudan Ministry of Peace and CPA Implementation and supported by the European Union, a workshop to inform strategies for border management and security between North and South Sudan from June 13 to June 14 in Juba. Among the participants were Ministers, State Governors, County Commissioners and other border state representatives. The participants listened to presentations of Dr Jose Antonio Ruiz de Casas from the European Commission, Professor Anthony Asiwaju from the African Regional Institute, Dr Mohamadou Abdoul from Inter-Afriques, Dr Wafula Okumu from the Africa Union Border Programme and Lucian Harriman, Sudan Country Director for Concordis International. The workshop covered topics such as Border Security, Pastoralism, Movement of Peoples and Social Interaction and Cross-Border Economic Relations. Additionally, examples of border management in Europe, East Africa and Nigeria were discussed and how existing principles, frameworks and mechanisms can be applied in Sudanese context. The workshop was chaired in turns by John Luk Jok - Minister for Legal Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth - Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Pagan Amum Okiech - Minister for Peace and CPA Implementation and Simon Kun Puoc - Governor of Upper Nile State. The facilitation team consisted of Peter Gwang - Deputy Chairperson for the Ministry of Peace and CPA Implementation, Richard King - Deputy Chief Executive for Concordis International and Dr Wafula Okumu. The participants recommended a replica of this workshop on the Northern side of the North-South Sudan border, as well as replica workshops in the different border states.
Concordis Conflict Mitigation Event in Juba (13/05/11) The event in Juba this week brought together the State Peace Coordinators from the Border States of South Sudan, officials from the Ministry of Peace and CPA Implementation in Juba and officials from the South Sudan Community Security and Small Arms Control Bureau in Juba to discuss North-South border conflict mitigation. The main outputs were a common conflict analysis by participants of conflict drivers along the North-South border area related to cross-border issues. Additionally, participants were informed of Concordis' work and research on cross-border issues. The Ministry of Peace and CPA Implementation, the CSAC Bureau and Concordis were all were informed of each others' action plans to deal with cross-border issues.
Deputy Country Director (Sudan) Appointed (31/03/11) We are pleased to announce the appointment of Mandy Gardner as our new Deputy Country Director in Sudan. Mandy comes to us from Conflict Dynamics and has previously worked with the Government of Southern Sudan's Bureau for Community Security and Small Arms Control. She joined our team, Gordon Lam Programme Manager and Michael Lado Logistics and Administration Officer, in Juba early April.
Darfur Rebels Discuss Peace (22/03/11) A recent workshop hosted by the Sudan Task Group saw members of Darfurian rebel groups and civil society organisations meet in Siena to discuss next steps in the peace process. Richard King, acting CEO of Concordis International, co-facilitated the event, which ran over five days. Speaking after the event, King said 'The workshop gave participants the opportunity to lay out a vision for a future, peaceful Darfur in political, economic and socio-cultural terms. Strategies were then suggested for implementing this vision. I believe the week we spent in Siena was empowering for participants. Sustained dialogue of this kind is very important in conflict transformation processes’. The event – dubbed Siena II by its organisers - developed the progress made at an earlier workshop in July 2009. Plans are being made for a follow-up event to take place in due course. Meanwhile, Concordis will stay engaged with the initiative – and the wider Darfur peace process – as part of our commitment to long term, sustainable peacebuilding work.
Easter Cards Available Now (04/03/11)
One of our generous supporters, Frances Hawken, has kindly offered to donate 50% of the proceeds from the sale of her hand-crafted cards to Concordis International. Click here to view her Easter range and help us in our efforts to bring lasting peace to communities in conflict this spring.
The Big Give: Thank You (23/02/11)
We are delighted to annouce that our participation in The Big Give Appeal 2010 allowed us to raise over £45,000. This goes a long way towards helping us achieve our goal of creating lasting peace in some of the world’s most conflict affected areas. Some donations were sent directly to us instead of being deposited through The Big Give website, but we have still considered them as part of our overall total. We would like to say a heartfelt thanks to all those that were able to donate to the appeal. We hope you will continue to follow our progresss so that we can demonstrate how your generous donations are helping to transform lives across the globe.
Nationhood and ethnicity in Kenya (20/12/10) On 15 December, a consultation on Ethnicity and Nationhood in Kenya took place, to seek solutions to some of that country’s pressing concerns over tribalism and negative ethnicity, and the role it has played as a trigger for some of the shocking violence witnessed there in recent years. Jointly hosted in Nairobi by Concordis International, the Sychar Centre and the Institute for the Study of African Realities, the event gave influential Kenyans from a variety of backgrounds the opportunity to seek consensus on potential solutions to this difficult issue. Presentations from two speakers, looking both at the roots of ethnic tension in Kenya and its future under the newly-adopted constitution were followed by some detailed discussion. Participants sought both to learn lessons from the past, and to develop forward-looking proposals to address this divisive issue. The overall conclusions of the consultation demonstrated a thorough understanding of the topic and pragmatic approach on the part of the participants, outlining a series of practical recommendations to pass on to senior policy-makers. In the hope that this will support their efforts to achieve peace for Kenya, we are pleased to have taken part in this process and look forward to the next in the series, which we expect to take place in late February 2011. We are particularly grateful to St. Paul’s Church in St. Albans, whose generous contribution towards this project has enabled us to make it a reality.
The Big Give: Letter from Chief Executive (01/12/10)
Dear Friends, I'd like to ask if you might be able to help the peace-building work of Concordis International in Sudan and elsewhere, but this is a special opportunity to DOUBLE YOUR DONATION through the Big Give website. From 10 a.m. (UK time) on Monday December 6th please go to www.thebiggive.org.uk/donate/ci2010 to have your gift to Concordis International doubled. Generous supporters of Concordis International, together with corporate supporters of the Big Give website, have created a fund to double your gifts. Please do not miss this great opportunity for your donation to become TWICE its original value and allow us to make twice the impact through our work. More information on Concordis is at www.concordis-international.org. Matching funds are limited so if you are able to help us please donate as soon as possible from 10 am on 6th December to help us make the most of this great opportunity.
THANK YOU!
Peter Dixon, Chief Executive
Concordis International Recommendations from the Cross Border Meetings in Sudan (02/11/10) Over the past couple of weeks, Concordis International facilitated two regional cross-border meetings in Damazin and Bentiu in Sudan bringing together officials, traditional authorities and civil society representatives from both sides of Sudan's North-South border to build consensus on the nature of cross-border relations beyond the referendum. A one page summary explaining the Cross Border Relations Project can be downloaded here.
Cultural Healing in Sudan (28/10/10) Concordis International is on the verge of a new 2,5-year project in Sudan, funded by the European Commission, to capture and express different Sudanese cultures through film with the aim of bringing about social cohesion at a critical moment in Sudanese history. At this early stage, the focus is to establish agreements with appropriate Sudanese government bodies. Click here to read more.
Next Phase in Kenya (28/10/10) We are about to embark on to the second phase of our project in Kenya, which in conjunction with two local partners, seeks to address the causes of recent violence in Kenya, and to harness the potential of churches as significant peacemakers in Kenyan society. St. Paul's church in St. Albans has promised us a generous grant which will enable us to launch this phase of our Kenyan project, but the extent, scale and sustainability of the work will depend on raising further funding.
Concordis Mini-Conference (28/10/10)
This week Concordis hosted a mini-conference at Clifford Chance in London with the following topic: What's the Point? Why Spend Scarce Resources on International Conflict Prevention and Resolution? Speakers were, among others, Concordis Chairperson Professor Sheila Wirz, Concordis CEO Peter Dixon, Professor Lars Waldorf from the Centre of Applied Human Rights of York University and Mrs Rosemary Merkaje as a representative of the Southern Sudanese Civil Society. The well-attended conference was a success and a report shall be available for download soon.
Concordis and Abyei (09/08/10) Concordis International has now published the summaries of the workshops that took place in El-Muglad and Agok to build consensus on Abyei. Agok, Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, Sudan: from June 15th until June 18 this year we facilitated a State Workshop in Agok, Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, under the title Cross-Border Relations Beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities, to build consensus on Abyei. This three day meeting brought together traditional authorities, local administrators, Abyei Area Administration officials and representatives of civil society, such as leaders of women and youth associations from Dinka Ngok communities in the Abyei Area. The workshop was an opportunity for border communities to articulate principles and proposals to help inform the management of the border and cross-border relations; and help ensure that it works in the interests of a sustainable Sudanese peace over the long term. Please click here to download the 2-page summary of the workshop. El-Mujlad, South Kordofan, Sudan: From July 5 until July 7 this year we facilitated a State Workshop in El Muglad, Warrap State, under the title Cross-Border Relations Beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities, to build consensus on Abyei. This three day meeting brought together traditional authorities, government officials and representatives of civil society such as leaders of youth and women associations and religious leaders, from the Misseriya tribe in the locality of Abyei. The workshop was an opportunity for border communities to articulate principles and proposals to help inform the management of the border and cross‐border relations; and help ensure that it works in the interests of a sustainable Sudanese peace over the long term. Please click here to download the 2-page summary of the workshop.
More than a line: Sudan’s North-South Border (08/09/10) Concordis International was commissioned by the United States Institute of Peace to conduct a conflict assessment of the North-South border areas of Sudan. The findings can be found in our report More than a Line: Sudan's North-South Border launched last month in Washington. Download the full report here.
Sudan Organisation for Non-Violence and Development (SONAD) (06/08/11) This week Concordis gave an opening speech at a workshop hosted by SONAD on the future of ethnic minorities in Southern Sudan. 25 Darfurians, Southerners and Northerners are peacefully dialoguing about their future after the 2011 Referendum. This workshop is the second of a series of five consultations. Two workshops take place in Juba, two in Khartoum and the fifth will bring representatives from all workshops together. Recommendations from the workshops will be published on this website soon.
Concordis Update (21/06/10) Our teams in Sudan just came back to Juba from an intense workshop in Agok about cross-border relations in Abyei. The resolutions have been drafted and the report is in the process of being finalised. Whilst waiting for the publication of our latest report, please click here to read some of our previous publications about our consultations.
Concordis Moves to the Border (07/05/10) Our team in Juba, South Sudan, will travel shortly to Malakal and Renk in Upper Nile State to facilitate a workshop with communities living on the southern side of the much contested North/South Border in Sudan. In the meantime our team in Khartoum, North Sudan, will facilitate a similar workshop, but then in Kosti on the northern side of the inner border. These two workshops are part of a series of consultations alongside the North/South border in Sudan. They are designed in cooperation with the University of Juba to faciltate dialogue beween representatives of grassroots communities regarding the Referendum in 2011 and what will happen next. We will keep you updated as much as we can, because we understand you want to follow this exciting journey.
Peter Dixon on UCB Radio (25/04/10)
Listen now to Concordis International's Chief Executive on UCB Radio via the Concordis Audio Player on the home page. Different sections of thetelephone interview will give you an insight in the work of Concordis. Other interviews with Lucian Harriman concern the importance of border relationships in Sudan and a brief explanation of our methodology.
Dialogue Helps Peaceful Preparation for Abyei Boundary Ruling (28/04/10) In an effort to build a foundation for peaceful acceptance of the Permanant Court of Arbitration's ruling on Abyei's boundaries, Concordis International organised a three-day workshop with support from the European Commission to bring together 30 influential Dinka Ngok and Misseriya leaders. Leaders from the communities expressed their apirations for peaceful coexistence, as well as their concerns regarding tensions associated with border demarcation and the potential danger of renewed conflict. In the informal environment of the workshop, participants developed common understandings of the challenges they face and produced joint proposals for initiatives that could be undertaken to improve security and humanitarian, economic, political, and social relations across the border. USAID also supported this conflict prevention initiative, and published a 'Success Story' about it.
Concordis Contributes to Afghan Peacebuilding Conference (20/04/10) Concordis International’s Chief Executive Peter Dixon spoke on a conference for Afghan civil society in Kabul this month. As a partner in theAfghanistan: Pathways to Peace project, Concordis International played a supporting role in preparing and implementing this conference, which examined the nature of a comprehensive peace process for Afghanistan and developed concepts for the role of civil society in such a process. Click here to read more.