ZORGHOO — On July 26, 2024, key stakeholders in Namentenga province gathered in Zorgho to discuss enhancing social cohesion and addressing communication in conflict-sensitive environments.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the High Commissioner of Namentenga province and chair of the meeting, the session was facilitated by the Project to Support Internally Displaced Persons and Strengthen the Resilience of Host Communes (PDICA). Participants highlighted several issues impeding social cohesion, including crime, sexual abuse, poor infrastructure, economic stagnation in resettled villages, and a diminishing respect for elders. These challenges were identified as significant barriers to the community’s harmony and development.

In response to these issues, members of the social cohesion cluster, comprising representatives from civil society, religious groups, traditional leaders, and state and security services, agreed to adopt several innovative measures. These included the creation of a WhatsApp group to foster community spirit, involving leaders in resettlement efforts, organizing traders' convoys to bolster local markets, and initiating civil-military cooperative activities. They also discussed enhancing public awareness through interactive broadcasts and enforcing the reporting of abuses.

The meeting also touched on the operational challenges faced by humanitarian workers and the distribution of aid to internally displaced persons, as shared by a representative from the provincial directorate of Humanitarian Action. Elders at the meeting emphasized the critical role of respect for authority in societal development and discipline.

Zoumana Traoré, a facilitator from PDICA, introduced the topic of 'Conflict-sensitive communication,' which framed much of the discussion, aiming to refine how communities address and resolve conflicts without exacerbating tensions.

The consultation concluded with acknowledgments by the cluster president, who praised the participants for their contributions and PDICA for its crucial support in fostering dialogue and solutions.