Engaging with Local Communities to Prevent Violence: What Role for ICTs?

“This research shows that, at best, information and communications technologies (ICTs) can support relationship building, but that they are not a substitute for the human element that is essential to creating trust, dialogue and shared goals.”

This research briefing presents some of the insights that emerged from a research project implemented in South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda that was designed to assess the effectiveness of the role of communication tools - including information and communication technologies (ICTs) - in reducing violent conflict. In particular, it looked at the potential for ICTs to connect 'warners' (local organised community members) to 'responders' (local authorities and decision-makers), and to create opportunities to build trust and support relationships that allow this to happen. The research, funded by Making All Voices Count, was carried out by a consortium of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), peace activists, support networks, and academics; it was coordinated by the ACTION Support Centre (ASC), the Africa regional hub of a conflict transformation network.

The researchers and practitioners worked together using tools for conflict analysis to learn about the dynamics affecting communication and cooperative responses to conflict and violence in Gauteng, South Africa; Gulu, Uganda; and Zanzibar, Tanzania. The research asked questions about the nature of existing relationships and the patterns of power and trust within them. As these relationships - whether strong, weak, or broken - largely depend on communication, the research also asked: Who communicates with whom within early warning networks? Which tools are used to communicate? What is the content and nature of the communication? What are the hindrances and enablers to clearer communication? How do people communicate with those perceived to hold power? What are the opportunities afforded by current technological infrastructure?

The briefing outlines the context in each of the three areas of study and uses specific experiences from these communities to demonstrate the research findings and conclusions. It firstly shares several conflict scenarios in the communities where a lack of communication between community members and local authorities was part of a dynamic of rising tension. For example, in Uganda, People’s Voices for Peace (PVP) activists reported their concerns about rising tensions between local residents and South Sudanese migrants and refugees, but noted that these had gone largely unnoticed by those in authority, who may be able to support PVP in its attempts to analyse, understand, and defuse the tensions.

The report also looks at how communication such as radio, text messages, and WhatApp are being used in the different contexts. These were very different in each context, which highlights the importance of understanding the technologies - both low and high tech - that are already being used. The findings also highlighted that it is “always best to work to improve relationships between conflict stakeholders before introducing or even discussing ICT innovations.”

Using other examples of instances where conflict was avoided, the report shows that “weaknesses in communication are not the result of either the lack of, or the presence of, cutting-edge technologies; they are about relationships between people.....Trust within existing anti-conflict social networks and context-appropriate methods are the common factor in successful efforts to mitigate violence and build peace.” One example cited in the report comes from Gauteng where, during an outbreak of xenophobic violence in 2015, members of the established Diepkloof Local Peace Committee used WhatsApp as a useful, cheap tech tool to mobilise members of their existing networks of trust in the community to successfully counter mobs of youths intent on looting shops owned by foreigners.

In summary, the research found that:

• "Conflict is not a problem that is solved by finding the correct solution; it is a complex and messy social phenomenon, embedded in wider systems of inequality, grievance and power dynamics.
• Conflict is inevitable in human societies, but violent conflict can be mitigated and reduced.
• ICTs such as mobile phones, social media or blogs are tools, not approaches. Their potential for mitigating and reducing violent conflict is greatest where there are existing channels of communication and good inter-organisational and inter-personal trust.
• High costs and low literacy levels mean that ICTs are out of reach for many people in the places where we worked. Simple, low-cost communication tools - banners, posters, flyers and blackboards - can have significant impacts, promoting messages to diffuse conflict tensions and reaching audiences that may not use ICTs.
• Community security is a shared responsibility for citizens, security forces and authorities. Local governments and security forces need to reflect community values and shared goals. If they do, ICTs can be beneficial, both in reducing conflict tensions and working to mitigate triggers that cause conflicts to become violent. But other non-ICT tools may be just as appropriate.
• If ICTs are imposed externally in an effort to find a ‘solution’ to ‘conflict’, they are likely to be ineffective and unsustainable, and can do more harm than good."

The report offers the following recommendations to those engaging in peacebuilding and conflict prevention at local levels:

• "Where ICTs are used to develop communication channels, they should build on local people’s existing engagement with technology. Introducing equipment, software or practices outside of people’s comfort zone will require significant groundwork and adds risk to thesustainability and viability of projects.
• External agencies should be wary of introducing ICT innovations and avoid short-term ‘fixes’. Instead, they should support local partners who enjoy trust and respect, and plan for longer-term relationship-building and support to locally driven mechanisms for strengthening communication - which may or may not include ICTs."

Click here for the 2-page research summary.