Peace Ambassadors Reducing GBV and Land Conflicts

Topic: Gender Equality

East Africa

Co-financing

Human Rights & Civ. Soc.

Sustainable Livelihoods

problem & solution

In Mt. Elgon, deep-rooted gender-based violence (GBV), pervasive female genital mutilation (FGM), and frequent land conflicts severely disadvantaged women and youth, limiting their participation in decision-making, education access, and economic activities. Women and girls faced exclusion from land ownership and inheritance, exacerbated by ongoing land disputes and harmful socio-cultural practices, resulting in heightened vulnerability and marginalisation.

The solution was DESECE's establishment of trained community peace ambassadors who mediated conflicts, challenged harmful practices, and promoted women's active participation in leadership. Additionally, climate-adaptive agricultural practices were integrated to foster sustainable livelihoods and reduce resource-related conflicts.

the experience

Community sensitisation: Conducted targeted campaigns addressing GBV, women’s land rights, and effective conflict resolution aimed at community elders, former circumcisers, men, boys, and influential community leaders.
Peace committees: Established and trained six committees comprising elders, former circumcisers, and community leaders advocating for women’s rights, education, and peace through "Training for Transformation" workshops.
Climate-resilient agriculture: Set up community-managed agroecology demonstration plots, kitchen gardens, and food forests, improving food security and sustainability.
Alternative income sources: Provided former circumcisers with income-generating activities to facilitate their transition away from FGM practices.
Cross-sector collaboration: Engaged local authorities, government ministries, and NGOs to secure lasting policy support and community involvement.
Participatory methodologies: Implemented activities used a community-integrated participatory approach and "Do No Harm" principles, ensuring cultural sensitivity and community ownership.

01

Challenges

01

Initial resistance from influential elders and circumcisers who saw gender equality initiatives as undermining their agency, threatening social stability.
Continued covert practices of FGM by some community members despite public condemnation, requiring persistent advocacy and alternative income sources.
Scepticism from community members regarding external interventions, necessitating repeated trust-building activities, continuous dialogue, and visible success stories to gain acceptance.

02

Impact

02

GBV incidents reduced by more than half, significantly improving women's safety and community relations.
Election of women into political leadership positions, changing perceptions of female leadership.
Girls' school attendance rose significantly, lowering early marriage cases and improving educational outcomes.
Increased adoption of agroecological practices, with 80% of households establishing kitchen gardens and food forests, enhancing food security.

03

Lessons Learned

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Identifying and involving influential local leaders, including former circumcisers, was crucial for sustainably ending harmful cultural practices.
Regular and meaningful engagement with community animators increased local ownership, ensuring interventions remained culturally relevant and effective.
Providing viable economic alternatives to harmful traditional practices was critical to sustained behavioural change.
Integrating practical climate-resilient strategies into peacebuilding efforts effectively reinforced community commitment and participation.

Realisation period 2021-2024

Location Mt Elgon, Kenya

Contact Zacharia Simiyu

Partner organisation - Development Education Services for Community Empowerment (DESECE)

DESECE started as a CBO in 1993 with DELTA, WINDOW, Civic Education (Human Rights, Peace and Reconciliation), Mainstreaming Gender, and HIV and Aids, and organic Agriculture as its main activities. Due to expanding needs DESECE now also implements Policy Dialogue, Reproductive Health, Community Library, Hospitality and Agro-ecology.