Berghof Foundation: 50 years of conflict transformation

Outlook
How to include protest
movements in peace and
transition processes?
Over the next three years, Berghof will use its
experience in participatory research, capacitybuilding
and dialogue facilitation to analyse
and engage with protest movements as key
drivers of conflict transformation. We will also
foster multi-level communication channels with
grassroots civil society that reach well beyond
urban elites and professional NGOs. Where we
have ongoing activities and trusted partners,
we will engage with a broad range of movements
advancing complementary facets of sustainable
peace, including pro-democracy, human rights,
environmental, social justice and anti-corruption
movements. Particular emphasis will be placed
on women and youth at the forefront of
nonviolent mobilisations.
An example of this has already been
implemented in Lebanon, a country rocked by
mass protests and street demonstrations since
October 2019, within the context of two ongoing
dialogue processes organised by Berghof: one with
an inclusive group of social media influencers, the
other supporting dialogue among female leaders
in emerging political movements as well as in
traditional political parties (in separate dialogue
tracks). Further planning is under way on strategybuilding
with emerging political movements,
to support them in their efforts to develop
constructive visions for the country.
Our aim is to foster a conducive
environment for the effective inclusion of protest
movements in national dialogues, peace processes
and political settlements. We aim to build their
capacity to conduct inclusive negotiations, either
internally, with civil society and political allies, or
across the conflict divide. This work will contribute
to the broader goal of preventing violent conflict
and building sustainable peace, by providing
grassroots activists with the tools to meaningfully
influence state reforms and public policies.
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