Supporting local actors in times of conflict – The civil peace service and its various actors

Ruppel, Samantha ; Rieche, Bernd ; Sayndee, Debey T. ; Schlimpert, Christoph ; López, Requena María ; Pastoors, Daniela

Abstract

In  the  last  years,  the  number  of  articles  that  have  been  calling  for  a stronger influence of local actors in conflict transformation and peacebuilding has  been  steadily  increasing.  At  the  practical  level  of  peace-work,  we  can already find some examples where the local actors play an important role in the peace processes. This cooperative work can be found for example in the German Civil Peace Service (CPS) that is working in (post-) conflict countries with the aim  of  involving  and  working  together  with  local  actors  in  local  peace processes. This article reflects on this cooperation andlooks into the following questions:  How  can  partnership  in  peacebuilding  look  like?  What  role  do power-asymmetries play in the work of the CPS? And what do people working in the area of CPS need and what do they do? To answer these questions, the article uses the unique method of storytelling in order to combine voices from CPS-actors as well as researchers in order to discuss different perspectives and answers  to  this  question.  The  article  will  introduce  the  CPS,  its history,and forms of cooperation, will speak about chances and limitations for both local actors as well as German peace workers during the cooperation but also in their training  and  accompaniment  and  will  close  with  recommendations  for  peace work that aims to cooperate with local actors.