Center for Conflict Resolution (CECORE)

Who we are

WORKING FOR A SOCIETY WHERE PEACE, TOLERANCE, AND HUMAN DIGNITY PREVAIL

WHO WE ARE
CECORE was founded more than 20 years ago by a number of Ugandans aspiring to promote alternative and creative means of preventing, managing, and resolving conflict. CECORE’s purpose is to empower individual women and men, communities, organizations and institutions to transform conflict effectively by applying alternative and creative means in order to promote a culture of active tolerance and peace.

OUR COMMITMENT
We commit to work with people, especially – but not only – in areas where conflict is present or peace is threatened, to awaken and develop their awareness that peace is within their grasp; to empower them with the knowledge and skills relevant to their situation; and to facilitate conflict prevention, resolution and transformation.

OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE

PEACEBUILDING
We assist communities and other actors in peacebuilding, mediation and reconciliation through dialogue, training, and consultancies on conflict prevention, management, resolution and transformation.

We were at the center of the peace agreement between the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRFII) and the Ugandan Government, where we played a role in helping the two parties negotiate a peaceful agreement that still holds to date. We were also called upon by the World Bank to bring together stakeholders of the then controversial Bujagali Dam project, where facilitated dialogue helped cool tempers.

CONFLICT SENSITIVITY
We believe that any actor operating within the context of conflict has the potential to impact that conflict, whether it is in a positive or negative way. It is therefore imperative that such actors have a sound understanding of the conflict dynamics in order to maximize positive impacts of their activities and minimize negative ones.

We promote conflict sensitive approaches through trainings and consultancies. Recently, we undertook a project in partnership with Saferworld titled Integrating Conflict Sensitivity in Land Governance for Conflict Prevention and Resolution with the objective to strengthen the Government of Uganda’s capacity with respect to peacebuilding and conflict mitigation.

MEDIA
We recognize the crucial role the media plays, but also how the media is often used to fuel conflict and misunderstanding. We therefore work with and through the media to promote peacebuilding and development.

We do this through trainings and strategies for the media, such as with USAID-PACT, where CECORE conducted a training on media and peacebuilding for media personnel and peacebuilding implementers.

KNOWLEDGE BUILDING
In order to appropriately address conflict issues, we carry out research and analysis in selected areas of conflict and on various methods of conflict resolution. We then utilize this to design suitable and tailor-made actions.

We have also recently put together a resource center where academics, practitioners, civil servants and others can access materials on topics including peacebuilding, good governance, human rights, small arms and development.

ADVOCACY
Through networking locally, regionally and inter-nationally, we have maintained strong links with various organizations and networks to increase the impact of joint actions, especially regarding advocacy. Targeted actors include government institutions and structures that are vital for pushing for relevant policy changes.

Campaigns that we have championed and advocated for have included the Stop the Killing initiative in the Great Lakes Region (working with Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s team), the Debt Campaign in Uganda, End Violence Against Women, and others regarding antipersonnel landmines and small arms.