Grassroots Peacebuilding and Vertical Integration: A Case Study of the Peace-Rings Approach

Abstract

This article examines the practicalities of grassroots peacebuilding and discusses challenges they present to vertical integration through a case study of the Northern Uganda Early Recovery Project and its Peace Rings approach. Exploring both direct and indirect vertical integration, the article examines factors that both facilitated and undermined vertical integration, the impact that accrued, as well as the potential for bottom-up approaches to enhance vertical integration. A key conclusion is that in assessing the character and quality of vertical integration, the linkages among various local-level actors are just as important as linkages across international, national, and local divides.

Keywords::

• vertically integrated peacebuilding
• Peace Rings
• Peace Committees
• indirect vertical integration
• direct vertical integration
• World Vision
• Peacebuilding Learning Center
• Northern Uganda

Notes

¹ This case study is based on an earlier study of the Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Component (Kamatsiko, 2013). The study analysed data gathered from 119 respondents. It adopted a mixed method design with triangulation happening at various levels. Data was largely qualitative. The study team was led by Valarie Vat Kamatsiko and included Acak Herimos Paul (formerly NUERP's peace facilitator), Isaac Ijjo (formerly peacebuilding specialist with World Vision Uganda) and John Paul Akera (research assistant).

² World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. It is dedicated to working with the world's most vulnerable people and serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Valarie Vat Kamatsiko

VALARIE VAT KAMATSIKO is a theorist-practitioner currently working for World Vision East Africa as Regional Peacebuilding Advisor. She has more than eight years of experience providing technical support to World Vision offices in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Her work includes ensuring that Peacebuilding and Conflict-Sensitivity are integrated in strategy and programming processes across sectors.