The Swiss-based organisation 'Initiatives of Change' held six days of 'honest conversations' with 33 leading Burundians
"Following last September´s ceasefire agreement between the Burundi government and rebel Palipehutu FNL (National Liberation Forces), 33 leading Burundians, including three former heads of state, held six days of 'honest conversations' as guests of Initatives of Change at its conference centre in Caux, Switzerland. In this bid to consolidate the fragile peace in their country the Burundians felt the need for an informal setting where they could build relationships of trust. Members of parliament, political leaders, representatives of Palipehutu FNL, religious leaders, and representatives of civil society tool part. 'Caux has helped us to open our hearts...to each other.´said one political leader. Another added, 'If we are motivated by our fears and hurts our country will never come out of the vicious circle of violence."
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
Japan to chair U.N. Peacebuilding Commission | The Japan Times Online
The U.N. Peacebuilding Commission has picked Japan as the chair to lead the 31-member panel during its second one-year session that started last week.
'"Japan is very, very honored to have been elected to the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission in its second year and, of course, it is not always easy to get a new mechanism off the ground and get it working in the U.N. system," Kenzo Oshima, head of the panel, said after taking up his new post.'
'"Japan is very, very honored to have been elected to the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission in its second year and, of course, it is not always easy to get a new mechanism off the ground and get it working in the U.N. system," Kenzo Oshima, head of the panel, said after taking up his new post.'
Monday, 2 July 2007
Jobs- Peace Building Advisor, Ethiopia
ZOA Refugee Care is recruiting for the position of Peace Building Advisor, based in Ethiopia.
'The Peace Building Advisor advises and supports the Head of Programmes of ZOA Ethiopia on all aspects of its Peace Building programme. He may also provide general advisory support to ZOA Ethiopia as requested by the Country Director.
In addition, the Advisor provides advise and support to the ZOA international Programme in Apeldoorn and specific country programmes for a maximum of 10-20% of his time and with funds reserved for this within the Peace Building budget or made available by ZOA international. For this secondment he will liaise with relevant HQ staff and Country Directors.'
'The Peace Building Advisor advises and supports the Head of Programmes of ZOA Ethiopia on all aspects of its Peace Building programme. He may also provide general advisory support to ZOA Ethiopia as requested by the Country Director.
In addition, the Advisor provides advise and support to the ZOA international Programme in Apeldoorn and specific country programmes for a maximum of 10-20% of his time and with funds reserved for this within the Peace Building budget or made available by ZOA international. For this secondment he will liaise with relevant HQ staff and Country Directors.'
Jobs- Senior Civil Society Development Coordinator, DRC
IRC is recruiting for a Senior Civil Society Development Coordinator, based in Bukavu, DRC.
'The Senior Civil Society Development Coordinator is responsible for overseeing IRC’s CSD program portfolio in the DRC. The Senior CSD Coordinator is responsible for defining and implementing IRC’s strategic vision in the CSD sector – significant evolutions are expected in this regard before the end of FY07. IRC plans on priming on a civil society development program in response to a general RFA for the D. R. Congo (DRC) related to governance and policy reform. He/She manages and supports a GBV Coordinator, Civil Society Program Managers (currently 1 but likely to expand if additional grants are awarded), and a Partnership Support Manager.
'The Senior Civil Society Development Coordinator is responsible for overseeing IRC’s CSD program portfolio in the DRC. The Senior CSD Coordinator is responsible for defining and implementing IRC’s strategic vision in the CSD sector – significant evolutions are expected in this regard before the end of FY07. IRC plans on priming on a civil society development program in response to a general RFA for the D. R. Congo (DRC) related to governance and policy reform. He/She manages and supports a GBV Coordinator, Civil Society Program Managers (currently 1 but likely to expand if additional grants are awarded), and a Partnership Support Manager.
Training- Core Skills for Working in Conflict | Peaceworkers UK
Peaceworkers UK is offering a course entitled Core Skills for Working in Conflict. It will be held from 17-22 July in the UK.
Sunday, 1 July 2007
Kofi Annan Launches Global Humanitarian Forum
A formal announcement has finally been made concerning the Global Humanitarian Forum, a new organization created by from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan with support from the Swiss Government. Based in Geneva, the Forum will help people in poor countries play a greater role in finding solutions to their developmental and humanitarian problems.
While the former SG is vague on precisely what the organization will do, he does provide one precise example of what they might do:
'For example, he says the United Nations and other members of the humanitarian community would not have been able to deal with natural disasters such as the Indian Ocean tsunami and the earthquake in Kashmir without the help of the military.
"If the military had not come in and provided heavy logistical support … many more people would have died as we would not have been able to get to them," said the former U.N. chief. "And, so the military have become important players in humanitarian relief. And, yet, when we get together to discuss humanitarian issues, they are not around, they are not at the table."
"I think we would want to bring them to the table to discuss with humanitarian actors how we could cooperate. And, from my own previous experience, I know it is not an easy relationship," he added.
Mr. Annan says he recognizes private aid groups are not comfortable working with the military. He says he hopes the Forum can improve this relationship.'
While the former SG is vague on precisely what the organization will do, he does provide one precise example of what they might do:
'For example, he says the United Nations and other members of the humanitarian community would not have been able to deal with natural disasters such as the Indian Ocean tsunami and the earthquake in Kashmir without the help of the military.
"If the military had not come in and provided heavy logistical support … many more people would have died as we would not have been able to get to them," said the former U.N. chief. "And, so the military have become important players in humanitarian relief. And, yet, when we get together to discuss humanitarian issues, they are not around, they are not at the table."
"I think we would want to bring them to the table to discuss with humanitarian actors how we could cooperate. And, from my own previous experience, I know it is not an easy relationship," he added.
Mr. Annan says he recognizes private aid groups are not comfortable working with the military. He says he hopes the Forum can improve this relationship.'
UN decides to split Department of Peacekeeping Operations
The United Nations General Assembly decided by consensus to split the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), creating a new Department of Field Support to look after management and logistic under the supervision of an Under-Secretary-General. The Peacekeeping Department will now concentrate on operations and will also be headed by an Under-Secretary-General.
'...Ban sees it [the splitting of DPKO] as an important part of the reforms process and asserts that it would increase the overall efficiency at a time when the world body is being asked to take on more and more responsibility of peacekeeping.'
'...Ban sees it [the splitting of DPKO] as an important part of the reforms process and asserts that it would increase the overall efficiency at a time when the world body is being asked to take on more and more responsibility of peacekeeping.'
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