Peacebuilder Practitioner Profile

Peacebuilder Practitioner Profile

The term peacebuilding is about dealing with the key reasons that drive people to fight in the first place and supporting societies to manage their differences and conflicts without resorting to violence. Peacebuilding aims at preventing the outbreak, increase, continuation, and reoccurrence of violence. Therefore, peacebuilding could happen before, during, and after conflicts. Peacebuilding is considered as a long-term and collaborative process, as it involves changes in attitudes, norms, and behaviors. Peacebuilding entails collaborative work done locally, nationally, and internationally. It includes individuals, communities, governments, non-government organizations, among others. All the stakeholders have a role to play to achieve the goal of peacebuilding.

Peacebuilding involves various approaches and methods that eventually work to ensure that people are safe from harm and have access to law and justice. Additionally, peacebuilding ensures that people are included in the political decisions that affect them. Peacebuilders are also ensure that people have access to better economic opportunities and enjoy better livelihoods.
Peacebuilding is achieved through the following approaches and methods: Engagement with the various forms of diplomacy. Additionally, it can be acquired through the strengthening of democracy and inclusive politics. Inclusive politics includes electoral frameworks, active citizenship developments, among others. Peacebuilding involves working to enhance general security. In some cases, peacebuilders work together with business and trade to generate sustainable jobs or enhance their employment practices. Peacebuilders also play the role of developing infrastructure and rural and urban planning.

It is also the responsibility of the peacebuilders to enhance healthcare. Peacebuilders are also actively involved in making development programs in conflict areas more sensitive to conflict dynamics. Peacebuilding involves recognizing the right time for a change and seizing them; hence, a competent peacebuilder is the one who is able to take the opportunity to bridge the gap between the warring parties. Another essential feature a good peacebuilder must possess is networking skills. In most cases, peacebuilding involves networking with various stakeholders to ensure there is an effective bridge-building. Multiple stakeholders may be required for multiple reasons, namely, finances, legitimacy, among other reasons. Example of the stakeholders required in peacebuilding includes private sectors, government, civil societies, and communities, among others. A peacebuilder must be able to address the extremely complex and difficult challenge. Solving conflicts to bring peace is considered as a complex issue as the parties involved may not be willing to collaborate to bring a lasting solution. Besides, peacebuilding may involve solving difficult cases, for instance, that may include loss of lives; thus, resolving such cases may be difficult. A peacebuilder who can be able to solve such challenges is essential.

There are various essential characteristics of a competent peacebuilder needed in bridging the gap. Willing to take a risk is considered as one of the critical features required in peacebuilding. It entails facing uncertain circumstances. As a peacebuilder, one is supposed to be able to face unpredictable situations to ensure peace is evident. Another essential quality of a proper peacebuilder is an individual who is quick to learn survival tactics in different spaces.  Additionally, an effective peacebuilder must be able to connect with high networks they are willing to utilize and share. An effective team builder must possess excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills. Peacebuilding involves interacting with people from different sectors; on that account, excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills are essential. Peacebuilding includes the creativity to solve problems; therefore, a competent peacebuilder must be able to utilize creativity to solve challenges efficiently. A good peace builder should be not judgmental. Peacebuilding entails hearing ideas, experiences, and emotions from different individuals concerning different topics; therefore, a peacebuilder should be able to listen and not judge. In addition, good peacebuilder should be able to look for sustainable results and not quick solutions reasonably. Peacebuilding involves finding a lasting solution that will benefit future generations; hence, quick fixes maybe not successful in the long run.

Further to this, effective peacebuilder should possess cross-cultural competency and understanding. Peacebuilding entails dealing with various communities who have different cultures, and therefore, a peacebuilder should possess such quality to become effective. Multiple cultures have norms and rules that govern them; hence, a proper understanding of the involved culture is essential. An effective peacebuilder should be motivated by discouragement, rejection as well as disagreement. Peacebuilding is a complicated task, and one is prone to discouragements, rejections, and disagreements. For this reason, taking such feedbacks as motivation is key. A peacebuilder is reasonably supposed to identify the areas one is passionate about becoming flexible to peacebuilding and what a career path may look like. Additionally, a peacebuilder is not supposed to be reactionary as one cannot be able to think clearly when overwhelmed with emotions. Peacebuilders must know how to navigate delicate situations carefully and influence people to unite after a conflict. They should also remind people of their higher purpose. As a peacebuilder, it is imperative to be patient, empathetic, and know themselves. A peacebuilder is supposed to identify himself or herself, both internally and externally. For instance, the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and weaknesses one possesses.
To sum up, effective team building can be achieved through meaningful participation of individuals from all areas of society and institutions. Peacebuilding can be achieved through strategies and methods that are adapted to each context. Inclusive peacebuilding is associated with trust and legitimacy. It is evident that the best peacebuilding approaches are those that are coherent from the bottom to top. The most lasting conflict solutions are those that are broadly owned. The best peacebuilding solution must involve legitimacy. It entails participation and dialogue with the stakeholders, direct programming, as well as policy recommendations.

Reflection

From the discussion we had, I have sufficiently realized that there is no one “right” way or path to peacebuilding. In addition, various lived experiences can be hugely beneficial and applicable to this line of work. One should be capable of balancing wisdom, knowledge, and skills. At the end of the discussion, I undoubtedly gained more confidence that I am on my path. I can now be able to follow my passions. I have realized that it is possible to have a continued life of service and still be able to maintain the quality of life in doing so adequately. I am also reminded that practicing self-compassion and self-care is crucial as it will help in bringing out the best self to the table in a day in and day out. Also, as an introvert, the thought of “having to network” makes me worried, but that this was a positive experience and made me what to see what other veterans are doing and see how I can learn from them as well as additional peacebuilders in our community. Maintaining my veteran roots while bridging over to what else is available to participate in locally to expand my definition of a peacebuilder.