From the experience of SAMBAD, it can be safely argued that community mobilization has increased participatory decision-making processes by bringing diverse stakeholders into a common space. It has expanded inclusion of voiceless, often marginalized populations, such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities, the elderly, and religious or ethnic minorities.
It also increased local ownership and promoted a more active and informed citizenry. SAMBAD uses a flexible approach in programming where local communities design, implement, monitor and evaluate by increasing public participation, empowering local actors, and fostering a sense of community ownership. It seeks to increase local actors' sense of ownership in an intervention process, empower local communities, and create an environment more conducive to lasting peace. It recognizes that peacebuilding strategies must give individuals and groups the opportunity to rediscover their inherent identities and regain their independence.
Conclusion
The central goal of SAMBAD’s community mobilization approach SAMBAD reinforces that peacebuilding process facilitates building relationships between the groups recovering from conflict. It is based on a holistic and in-depth understanding of the problems and the ways these problems are connected, of available resources, and of the respective agendas of the various actors.s to re-empower communities to make vital decisions and strengthen their capacity to address the legitimate needs and concerns.
Participation of local people in the process of conflict transformation is crucial because it helps to foster self-sufficiency and sustain peace over time. Creating such localized ownership involves transferring capacities and skills to recipients, and allowing actors at different levels to gradually acquire the skills and confidence needed to direct peacebuilding efforts.
Thus, SAMBAD promoted processes, structures, and spaces for instilling trust and harmony in the society through community mobilization. The contributions of these processes increased the level of community participation in planning, managing, and supervising peacebuilding processes. As demonstrated through examples from the project, community mobilization created mutual trust and respect, and ensured full cooperation between all stakeholders. This method is strongly recommended for long term continuation and replication since conflict affected people will then be able to transcend their differences and meet on equal terms to promote sustained dialogue in the community and to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
Conclusion
The central goal of SAMBAD’s community mobilization approach SAMBAD reinforces that peacebuilding process facilitates building relationships between the groups recovering from conflict. It is based on a holistic and in-depth understanding of the problems and the ways these problems are connected, of available resources, and of the respective agendas of the various actors.s to re-empower communities to make vital decisions and strengthen their capacity to address the legitimate needs and concerns.
Participation of local people in the process of conflict transformation is crucial because it helps to foster self-sufficiency and sustain peace over time. Creating such localized ownership involves transferring capacities and skills to recipients, and allowing actors at different levels to gradually acquire the skills and confidence needed to direct peacebuilding efforts.
Thus, SAMBAD promoted processes, structures, and spaces for instilling trust and harmony in the society through community mobilization. The contributions of these processes increased the level of community participation in planning, managing, and supervising peacebuilding processes. As demonstrated through examples from the project, community mobilization created mutual trust and respect, and ensured full cooperation between all stakeholders. This method is strongly recommended for long term continuation and replication since conflict affected people will then be able to transcend their differences and meet on equal terms to promote sustained dialogue in the community and to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
