Strengthening Local Capacities for Conflict Prevention and Peace Preservation

Our Approach

Following the withdrawal of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL), Advocate Plus worked with the UNDP to fill critical peacebuilding gaps and sustain local-level conflict resolution capacity.
The approach focused on empowering local actors—especially youth and community leaders—as mediators and dialogue facilitators, ensuring that peacebuilding mechanisms were homegrown, inclusive, and sustainable.

Key Activities & Highlights

1. Development of Institutional Framework for Peace
Designed and introduced a national “Infrastructure for Peace” (I4P) framework, providing structured mechanisms for mediation, dialogue, and conflict resolution.

Integrated the framework within community and regional structures to ensure localized ownership and sustainability.

2. Training of Mediators and Dialogue Facilitators
Identified and trained 100 mediators and dialogue facilitators across all regions of Sierra Leone.

Focused on practical skills in conflict analysis, mediation, dialogue facilitation, negotiation, and consensus building.

Ensured gender balance and youth representation within the network to enhance inclusivity.

3. Partnerships with National and Local Institutions
Collaborated with the National Youth Commission, Inter-Religious Council, and youth-led organizations to expand the reach and legitimacy of peacebuilding structures.

Facilitated joint capacity-building workshops that promoted interfaith dialogue, youth leadership, and collaborative problem-solving.

4. Community-Level Peacebuilding
Established peace dialogue forums within communities to address issues of land disputes, political tension, and social cohesion.

Promoted early warning and response systems to identify and mediate emerging conflicts.