Pastoral Resolve (PARE) is a non governmental organisation established in Nigeria but funded by French Embassy International with a view to identifying ways and strategies at resolving any conflict among communities. SANUSI MUHAMMAD looks at how the organisation is carrying out its mission especially in Zamfara state.
In October 2017, the French Embassy through the PISCCA Project approved grants to Pastoral Reserve (PARE) to implement projects aimed at improving livelihoods and strengthening of institutions
for peace and security in the rural areas of Zamfara state. In the course of the project implementation, it was
observed that communities were suffering from series of
security challenges that result in the breakdown of
inter-community relationships.
The organisation is being funded by the French Embassy under PISCCA 2019-2020 to facilitate strategic response for effective management of rural violence and
insecurity in the state.
Geographical coverage
According to the executive director of the organisation (PARE), Mr Sale Mamole, the project would geographically cover seven local government councils of the state out of 14 which comprises Anka, Birnin Magaji, Gusau, Maru, Maradun, Tsafe and Zurmi, while the remainining seven local government areas of Bungudu, Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Shinkafi, Bukkuyum, Gummi and Bakura would be focused this year, respectively.
Overall goal of the project
Investigation reveals that part of the overall goals of the project according to the executive director is to increase understanding of stakeholders about
conflict dynamics in the state. It is also to promote the establishment of a platform for engaging leaders in peace-building and security in order to enhance peaceful and harmonious
co-existence in communities affected by rural
violence while the main specific objectives of the project is to strengthen capacities of key stakeholders for conflict management and cooperation, promote the adoption of inclusive processes by
creating platform for active engagement in addressing security challenges, undertake mobilisation and awareness creation among external stakeholders in order to promote more informed national and international discourse.
Major expected outcomes of the project
The organisation has further outlined the main expected outcome of the oroject in the state to include broadening understanding of the dynamics of rural violence among stakeholders at local government areas, state and federal levels, improve the capacity of key stakeholders to manage violence thereby promoting security and social harmony,
development of common strategy framework for tackling security challenges in communities affected by rural violence and active participation of community
leadership in addressing challenges of rural violence.
Beneficiaries
According to Mamole, the direct beneficiaries are rural
communities in 10 local government areas and
emirates most affected by
rural violence and insecurity in the state. He noted that these would benefit from the inclusive and strategic interventions initiated by
relevant government institutions, traditional leaders, leaders
of pressure groups and security personnel to mitigate
violence and criminality by enhancing synergy among all actors at state, LGA and community
level leading to more positive interventions by community
groups such as vigilantes. This he noted is the clear understanding of the conflict dynamics and best peace building practices that can be adopted by states, LGAs and community level actors in confronting the challenges in Zamfara.
He said other beneficiaries states include Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi and Sokoto in which would be positively impacted upon by
increased security and peaceful
coexistence amongst
communities in Zamfara. It said indirect beneficiaries
would be stakeholders at the state level institutions such like ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs),
security agencies particularly the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Department of State Security (DSS), focal local government authorities and focal emirates. Other key community institutions such as youth and women groups, religious leaders, member of vigilante groups, CBOs FBOs, are also part of it.
The approach to be adopted.
According to Mamole, participatory actor-oriented approach would be employed in the implementation of the project for sustainability, saying, stakeholders at state, LGA and community levels would be participating in the
design and execution of key activities. He noted that the project would likewise be gender-sensitive, using cultural value systems of state in general
and communities in particular in involving women, youths and other marginalised groups.
“The project implementation would partner with other stakeholders and stakeholder
institutions to exploit the resources, skills and institutional expertise available among stakeholders.”
Approach to be adopted at national level.
Mamole further revealed that key media institutions as well as major international organisations with interest in conflicts management, peace building, security and improving people’s livelihoods would be mobilised and
encouraged to participate in awareness creation
forums and dialogue meetings.
Planned activities.
This includes sharing experiences of PARE and PISCCA Project on improving livelihoods and strengthening of institutions for peace and security in rural areas of Zamfara. It also includes a workshop on key drivers of rural violence and insecurity, dialogue with stakeholders on inclusive process, workshop to adopt state wide approach for responding to rural violence and insecurity, forum to increase understanding of the challenges of rural violence, respectively.
Efforts of Zamfara state government
Mamole acknowledged that throughout the last three months, the state government under the leadership of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle has demonstrated his administration’s readiness in restoring peace and security in the state. This, he said, includes peace reconciliation processes initiated among conflicting groups at various levels, saying the efforts was in line with PARE’s core value which is promoting dialogue among conflicting communities, saying the organisation would remain resolute towards ensuring sustainable synergy with the state government in that direction.
Meanwhile, on September 24, 2019, the organisation conducted its first Stakeholders Meeting on Strategic Response for Effective Management of Rural Violence and Insecurity in Gusau, the state capital while the state project manager of the organisation, Malam Umar Muhammad Maradun said the aim of the meeting is to educate the participants on the organisation’s primary assignment and seek much needed suggestions and support from them for it to attain the desired goals particularly for peaceful and harmonious coexistence. This is by carrying out advocacy and awareness creation, building capacity for improved livelihoods and engaging with institutions to enhance good governance.
