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mobilization to give greater voice to individuals and communities

affected by the conflict. The project works to improve the capac-

ity of Mukim communities and district Mukim associations in

advancing an alternative model of natural resource governance

that promotes participation, protects the rights of local communi-

ties, fosters environmental sustainability and advances the interests

of vulnerable and marginalized populations. It collaborates with a

network of civil society organizations to build advocacy skills in

the indigenous communities and develop detailed action plans on

natural resource management, including territorial and resources

mapping to present to the local government.

From one of Asia’s largest nations, let us head for one of its

smallest and trek up to Nepal, where an armed conflict between

government forces andMaoist fighters lasted a decade until 2006.

For the Chepang people, one of the indigenous groups of Nepal

living in the Himalaya foothills, poverty and marginalization

remain a daily reality. Chepang women are further marginal-

ized by lower literacy rates, lack of access to health services, and

scarce economic and political influence in a traditionally male-

dominated environment. This is why UNDEF funds a project

implemented by Development Exchange Centre Nepal, a local

NGO, to empower Chepang women to become change agents

in local governance processes, promoting pro-poor and gender

responsive decision-making. By equipping themwith leadership,

networking and advocacy skills, they are being encouraged to play

a part in local governance. The project is establishing a network of

Chepang women resource persons trained in social accountability

tools and leadership. These are creating discussion forums in their

respective villages and organize awareness-raising events for local

government, NGOs and media on the development challenges

facing the Chepang communities. Community radio is being used

to express the concerns raised during the forummeetings, expand

outreach and strengthen government accountability.

Time to cross the Indian Ocean to Tanzania, where the semi-

nomadic Maasai face a number of challenges – from social

and economic marginalization to drought and displacement.

Geographically remote from urban areas and with low literacy

levels, the Maasai have little access to information, decision-

making structures and social services. Awareness of their rights

and responsibilities is low. That is why UNDEF makes possi-

ble a project by the local Longido Community Development

Organization to strengthen democratic practices through civic

education for Maasai women and men. The project started by

training a core group of trainers in civic education and demo-

cratic practices, who then went on to replicate their knowledge

among community members in their respective villages. The

project developed local radio programmes and handbooks on

good governance and human rights tailored to the specifics of

the community. To focus on women’s potential in social devel-

opment and land rights, the project has identified women role

models who have been instrumental in advocacy campaigns,

sensitization meetings with local authorities and engagement of

yet more women.

The ensuing dialogue has helped demonstrate that civic educa-

tion isn’t just about elections; it can help reduce poverty and

advance development. The project is also setting up community

watchdog groups and spaces for regular community dialogue

where traditional leaders, local authorities and the network of

role model women and trainers come together to discuss a wide

range of development issues, while monitoring public policy and

service delivery in local government.

Next-door to Tanzania, in Burundi, the challenge is to keep

addressing the divisive factors that drove the country’s brutal

armed conflict for over a decade, while finding ways to nurture

the country’s fragile democracy. Following disputed elections in

2010, the differences among social, political and religious groups

surfaced once again. UNDEF made possible a project to foster

democratic dialogue for sustainable reconciliation by address-

ing the causes and consequences of instability and conflict. By

bringing together key leaders from religious groups, civil society

and local, provincial and national communities in eight prov-

inces, UNDEF’s grantee, the Inter-religious Council of Burundi,

provided a forum to discuss political cohabitation, social cohe-

sion and local governance in a post-conflict environment. The

project held a training workshop for religious leaders and young

people on post-conflict reconstruction and confidence-building

mechanisms between communities, which helped build a strong

network at the local and national levels. It produced awareness-

raising DVDs on democratic dialogue, voter education, women

and youth participation, political tolerance and community

reconciliation, which were used as key mobilization tools to facili-

tate discussions in community reconciliation sessions nationwide.

Let’s move next-door again to the Democratic Republic of

the Congo, where the country’s very identity has been defined

by protracted war. After only three pluralistic elections in the

nation’s history, democracy is still in its infancy, shaky and fragile.

Consolidating it calls for voluntary and broad participation of all

citizens. Marginalized and vulnerable groups such as the indig-

enous Pygmy people have little or no involvement in social and

political affairs. Many are illiterate and have limited access to social

services. That is why UNDEF funded a project conducted by the

local Dynamique des Groupes des Peuples Autochtones to make

it possible for illiterate voters to participate in provincial and local

Image: UNDEF

In Tanzania, an UNDEF-funded project by the local Longido Community

Development Organization aims to strengthen democratic practices

through civic education for Maasai women and men

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iffer