Land Tenure and Conflict in Kenya - Pilot Consultation, Nairobi, November 2008

Concordis International and the Sychar Centre of Nairobi facilitated an inclusive, informal low-profile consultations in partnership together, aimed to promote reconciliation between communities and reduce the threat of renewed violent conflict in Kenya, by enabling influential women and men from different ethnic, religious and political groups to develop equitable policy options on divisive issues together. The initial focus is on land issues. The Sychar Centre published a paper as the result of the pilot consultation on Land Tenure and Conflict in Kenya. It is offered as a resource to policy-makers from the national to the community level in the hope that it may stimulate reflection and discussion as Kenya moves towards implementing a new National Land Policy. Please click here to read Sychar Paper No. 1: Land Tenure and Conflict in Kenya.  


Ethnicity and Nationhood in Kenya - Conflict and Society Consultation 1, Nairobi, December 2010

In September 2009, Concordis International facilitated a consultation entitled The Role of UK Churches in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict at Lucy Cavendish College in Cambridge. Participating—in their personal capacities—were theologians, church leaders, academics and activists holding a spectrum of views on issues regarding Israel and the Occupied Territories of Palestine. A one-page summary of the consultation can be downloaded here.

Senator John E. Sununu (R-NH) delivered the keynote address to start off the programme. National security policy expert Nancy Bearg, American University’s Dr. Anthony Wanis-St. John and Concordis International chief executive Peter Dixon followed the Senator with complementary talks on issues related to the conference theme. The following report details a summary of each of their discussions as well as the panel and peacebuilding simulation conducted during the conference.

The report of this conference titled Towards a Safer World: Lessons from the Past, New Approaches for the Future is available in European A4-size here and for our American friends it is available in letter-size here.

We ran a four-day consultation entitled Land Use and Tenure: A Key to Sustainable Peace in Darfur in Cambridge, UK in September 2004. A one-page summary of the consultation can be downloaded here.

We ran a four-day consultation entitled Devolved Government in Post-Naivasha Sudan: A Key to Sustainable Peace in Darfur in Cambridge, UK in December 2004. A one-page summary of the consultation can be downloaded here.

We ran a four-day consultation entitled Promoting Sustainable Peace in Sudan through Post-Conflict Justice and Reconciliation in Somerset, UK in March 2007. The conclusions from the consultation can be downloaded here.

We ran a four-day consultation entitled Towards Effective Federalism in Sudan during the Interim Period in Cambridge, UK in September 2007. A one page summary of the consultation can be downloaded here.

We ran a four-day consultation entitled The Role of Religious Leaders in Encouraging Reconciliation in Khartoum, Sudan in February 2008. A one-page summary of the consultation can be downloaded here.

We ran a four-day consultation entitled Developing Darfurian Unity in Ammerdown, UK in June 2008. A one-page summary of the consultation can be downloaded here.

Following 14 months of intensive negotiations with the European Commission Delegation to Sudan, in December 2008 we were awarded a grant for a two-year peacebuilding programme to address tensions and potential threats to the implementation of the CPA.  The project is focused on the central area of Sudan where North and South border each other and includes a series of low-profile, unofficial consultations and conferences to enable influential figures from all concerned parties to work together in an environment conducive to constructive engagement, of which so far three consultations have been completed.

We ran a consultation entitled De-escalating Conflict, Confidence-Building and Conciliation in Juba, Sudan in March-April 2009. A one-page summary of the consultation can be downloaded here.

We ran a three-day consultation entitled Systems for Effective Regional Relations - Ensuring Stability around the Abyei Area in Nairobi, Kenya in July 2009. A one-page summary of the consultation can be downloaded here.

Concordis International facilitated a consultation on Justice and Reconciliation during Sudan's Post-2011 Transition from 19 to 22 September 2010. A broad group of individual Sudanese citizens and friends of the Sudan met in Cambridge to consider the current and future transition in the Sudan. Click here for the English and here for the Arabic conclusions. The 1-page summary can be found here.

The Cross-Border Relations Project

Concordis International is working in Sudan in partnership with the Centre for Peace and Development Studies (CPDS) of the University of Juba to facilitate a research-based dialogue project aiming to inform local and national peace and development processes, supporting cooperative, secure and economically viable relations across Sudan’s North-South border beyond 2011.

The project involves engaging border communities and authorities in the states along the North-South border as well as decision makers and opinion leaders in Khartoum and Juba.

A round of workshops are being facilitated in the border states, informed by a team comprising Concordis staff, CPDS researchers, and senior African experts. After these statelevel meetings, the project will bring workshop participants and additional policy makers together in a series of regional cross-border workshops, conferences, and briefings.

A one-page summary explaining the Cross-Border Relations Project can be downloaded here.

Cross-Border Relations Beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities

Unity State, Southern Sudan:

From 29 March to 31 March this year we facilitated a State Workshop in Bentiu, Unity State, under the title Cross-Border Relations Beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities to build concensus in Unity State.

This three day meeting brought together traditional authorities, civil leaders, and county authorities from the border Counties of Unity State, as well as relevant State level Commissions and Ministries. The workshop was an opportunity for border communities to develop principles and proposals to help inform what the border becomes; and help ensure that it works in the interests of a sustainable Sudanese peace.

Please click here to download the 2-page summary of the workshop, and click here for the full-length report.

Upper Nile State, Southern Sudan:

From 20 May to 22 May this year we facilitated a State Workshop in Renk, Upper Nile State, under the title Cross-Border Relations Beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities to build consensus in Upper Nile State.

This three day meeting brought together traditional authorities, government officials and civil society representatives, such as leaders of women and youth associations and religious leaders, from the Payams of Renk, Mabaan and Manyo Counties in Northern Upper Nile State, which are adjacent to the 1/1/1956 border between Northern and Southern Sudan. 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, and click here for the full-length report.

White Nile State, Northern Sudan:

From 25 May until 27 May this year we facilitated a State Workshop in Kosti, White Nile State, under the title Cross-Border Relations Beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities to build consensus in White Nile State.

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 tribes in southern White Nile state, who live adjacent to, and frequently move across, the 1/1/1956 border between Northern and Southern Sudan. Attending tribes included Silaim and Al‐Ahamda tribes from the western bank of the river, Sabaha and Nazi tribes from the eastern side, and others such as Dar_Miharib. 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 this the interests of a sustainable Sudanese peace over the long term.

Please click here to download the 2-page summary of the workshop, and click here for the full-length report.

Agok, Abyei Area, Sudan:

From 15 June until 17 June this year we facilitated an Area Workshop in Agok, Abyei Area, 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, and click here for the full-length report.

El-Muglad, Southern Kordofan, Sudan:

From 5 July until 7 July this year we facilitated an Area Workshop in el-Muglad, 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, and click here for the full length report.

Kadugli, Southern Kordofan, Sudan:

From 25 July until 27 July this year we facilitated an Area Workshop in Kadugli, under the title Cross-Border Relations Beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities to build consensus in Southern Kordofan State on cross border issues.

The workshop on ‘Cross-Border Relations beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities’ held in Kadugli from 25-27 July 2010 was one part of an incremental process aiming to support border communities to develop principles and proposals to help inform what the border becomes; and help ensure that it works in the interests of a sustainable Sudanese peace.  These reports document the discussions and conclusions of the border communities of Kadugli, Abu Gebeiha, Talodi, and Rashad localities.

Please click here to download the 2-page summary of the workshop, and click here for the full length report.

Damazin, Blue Nile State, Sudan:

From 31 July until 2 August this year we facilitated an Area Workshop in Damazin, under the title Cross-Border Relations Beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities to build consensus in Blue Nile State on cross border issues. 

The workshop on ‘Cross-Border Relations beyond the Referendum: Challenges and Opportunities’ was one part of an incremental process aiming to support border communities to develop principles and proposals to help inform what the border becomes; and help ensure that it works in the interests of a sustainable Sudanese peace. This report documents the discussions and conclusions of traditional authorities, government officials, and representatives of civil society such as leaders of youth and women associations and religious leaders. Participants came from Damazin, Roseires, and Kurmuk minicipalities. 

Please click here to download the 2-page summary of the workshop, and click here for the full length report.

Cross-Border Workshops Sudan

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.

Click here for the resolutions from the participants in Damazin and here for the resolutions from the participants in Bentiu. 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.

Conflict Mitigation along the North-South Border, Technical Seminar, 10-11 May 2011, Juba, South Sudan

Concordis organised an in event in Juba bringing together the State Peace Coordinators from the Border States of South Sudan, officials from the Ministry of Peace and CPA Implementation and officials from the South Sudan Community Security and Small Arms Control Bureau to discuss North-South border conflict mitigation. Please click here for the conflict analysis of conflict drivers along the North-South border area.

Workshop on Border Management and Security, 13-14 June 2011, Juba, South Sudan

Together with the South Sudan Ministry of Peace and CPA Implementation, Concordis facilitated a workshop to inform strategies for border management and security between North and South Sudan. Among the participants were Ministers, State Governors, County Commissioners and other border state representatives. Please click here to read the report. 

انقر هنا للاطلاع على التقرير باللغة العربية 

Peacebuilding Initiative

Summaries of three consultations that took place in the pilot phase of the Peacebuilding Initiative are available in Arabic below:

أنظمة للعلاقات الأقليمية الفعالة: ضمان الاستقرار في المنطقة المحيطة بابيي

Cross-Border Relations Project

A one page project description in Arabic of our most recent project in Sudan, the Cross-Border Relations Project, can be downloaded here. Below you will find summaries of the first workshops in this series.

Workshop in Unity State

The 2-page summary of the first workshop in Unity State, Southern Sudan as part of the Cross-Border Relations Project is now translated into Arabic. 

العلاقات العابرة للحدود لما بعد الإستفتاء

التحديات والفرص السوانح

Workshop in Upper Nile State

The second workshop took place in Renk, Upper State, Southern Sudan as part of the Cross-Border Relations Project.

العلاقات العابرة للحدود لما بعد الإستفتاء

التحديات والفرص السوانح

Workshop in White Nile State

The 2-page summary of the third workshop in Kosti, White Nile State, Northern Sudan can be downloaded here:

العلاقات العابرة للحدود لما بعد الإستفتاء

التحديات والفرص السوانح 

موجز الحلقات الدراسية (الورش) الولائية ،كوستي – ولاية النيل الأبيض السودان ،مايو 25 -27 العام 2010

Workshop in El Muglad

The 2-page summary of the fifth workshop in El-Muglad, Southern Kordofan State, can be downloaded here:

العلاقات العابرة للحدود لما بعد الإستفتاء

التحديات والفرص السوانح

موجز ورشة ولائية ، المجلد ، جنوب كردفان ، السودان ، 5-7 يوليو2010

Workshop in Kadugli

The 2-page summary of the sixth workshop in Kadugli, Southern Kordofan State, can be downloaded here:

العلاقات العابرة للحدود لما بعد الإستفتاء

التحديات والفرص السوانح

تقرير ورشة ولائية ، كادوقلي جنوب كردفان، السودان ، 25 -27 يوليو العام 2010