Aid in Action
USAID/ East Africa Launches PEACE II at Women’s Regional Gathering
Garissa, Kenya
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
Photo: U.S. Embassy, Kenya
Women from Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya hold hands in solidarity at the closing of meeting.
USAID/East Africa officially launched PEACE II, a regional conflict management and peace building project, in Garissa on August 15 -16, 2008. The launch was held during a two and a half day regional networking meeting of women peace builders in order to discuss and chart a way forward regarding the roles and priorities of women in peace building processes in the tri-border region.
USAID’s experience over the past 5 years of conflict management programming in the Horn of Africa has highlighted women’s continual marginalization both in terms of small numbers of women in decision-making positions related to peace and security, as well as differential impact on women and children of inter-ethnic, often resource-based, conflicts among the predominant communities. The USAID experience has also re-affirmed the impact on effective conflict management practices of strengthening local institutions ability to facilitate dialogue and collaborative peace-building and national government leaders’ recognition of the local institutions (cross-border Peace Committees).
Photo: U.S. Embassy, Kenya
Mission Directors (front row center) from USAID Ethiopia, East Africa and Kenya with participants from Women’s Regional gathering.
Over 50 key women leaders gathered in Garissa from August 13 - 15 from border areas of North Eastern Kenya, Gedo and Lower Juba regions of Somalia and South Eastern Ethiopia making this a truly regional and cross border event. Gender Ministers from Kenya and Somalia participated in the event and highlighted the necessity for women leaders to be active at all level of society. Mission Directors from USAID Kenya, Ethiopia and East Africa (which includes Somalia) attended the launch and expressed the commitment of USAID in supporting regional conflict management programs in the Horn of Africa and encouraging women to play a leading role in bringing sustainable peace to the region.