The Network of Religious and Traditional Peacemakers

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, as an informal structure, brings together actors from grassroots level religious and traditional peacemakers to international and intergovernmental organizations. Network activities focus on achieving sustainable results at grassroots level and in order to do so it often applies a multi-track approach in supporting religious and traditional peacemakers. Network activities focus on ensuring that the full potential of religious and traditional peacemakers in peacemaking, peace building and mediation, across different tracks is acknowledged, utilized and sufficiently supported. The aim of the Network is to improve the effectiveness of peace focused efforts through collaboratively supporting and strengthening the positive role of religious and traditional actors in peace and peacebuilding processes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs support to the Network falls under Finland’s overall pursuit and actions aimed to advance mediation as core to a more effective international agenda focused on peace and development. The work of the Network is carried out under three thematic clusters: (1) Peace Support, (2) Inclusivity, and (3) Thematic Expertise on Preventing Violent Extremism. The cross-cutting modalities of the work are (1) research, (2) networking and (3) trainings that contribute to and stem from the main areas of the Network work. The activities carried out by the Network are undertaken in countries and regions such as Libya, Somalia, Kenya, Central African Republic and South and South East Asia. Moreover, globally the Network maintains its capacity to react to pressing needs of peace support through its members.