Culture and Conflict Transformation

Reports from Cultural dimensions of conflict transformation in Burundi

Phase One Findings Report: Issues arising from the research

Written by Judy El Bushra

(Adobe PdF document 15 pages 284 kb)

This report outlines provides an overview of the learning and key issues from this project. After outlining the methodology for this project the report provides an overview of issues relating to culture and conflict transformation, looks at culture and conflict transformation in the context of Burundi. It goes on to summarise and analyse the work and impact of the project partners. It concludes with some questions for further research.

Cultural dimensions of conflict transformation in Burundi

• What role does culture play in conflict prevention and transformation?
• How do cultural activities contribute to the process of building cohesion within communities?
• What skills and experiences of this field do NGOs and local partners in Burundi, Rwanda and Eastern Congo have to share?
• How could this knowledge improve development practice and responses to conflict in this region of Africa, and in other conflict zones around the world?

In 2007 Creative Exchange brought together Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and NGOs working with cultural approaches to conflict transformation in Burundi to explore these issues, build local networking, learning and skills in this area, and develop new sources of data and knowledge about the role of culture in conflict.

We built on regional experience of community level work and its impact, in order to strengthen conflict management and conflict transformation processes, both within communities locally, and at the level of policy and practice among implementing and donor NGOs.