10. Reaping Change

we focus

advocacy

capacity development

networking

Peace and conflict occur in highly changing contexts, where objectives and the paths to achieve them are unpredictable. Predetermined indicators are not helpful in assessing progress towards our vision, so we have designed a framework where we will harvest outcomes as evidence of change.

We are ready to face the uncertain end of the COVID-19 crisis and its implications, which make it difficult to decide on timelines for types of activities UNOY has traditionally relied on, namely in-person networking meetings and advocacy missions. Knowing this, it has been crucial to focus on change and not on specific interventions during the development of this strategy. We know we will have to be flexible, innovative, resourceful, and ultimately adapt to what is possible, while setting ground for new ways to build peace online.

We want to stabilise the growth that UNOY has achieved in the recent past, while shifting power and resources to our network. You are an ideal partner for us if you are:

• Acting from a position of trust;
• Flexible and adaptable to a changing peacebuilding landscape;
• Willing to take risks, support innovation, and accept unexpected outcomes;
• Respectful of our autonomy and independence;
• Unbureaucratic and committed to a light-touch approach with minimum co-funding requirements;
• Interested in fostering our community beyond the immediate lifetime of a partnership;
• Transparent about your own strategy and motives for funding.

We know that language alone can limit the extent of our knowledge, our ability to participate, to secure resources, to challenge disempowering structures, and so on. With this in mind, we have developed a roadmap that responds to our communications needs. We will:

• solidify an effective communications approach to UNOY peacebuilders in crisis, so that Noura’s call for protection is heard and amplified;
• showcase impact on our newly designed website, so that Pablo is better equipped to navigate the funding landscape;
• empower UNOY members to advocate as UNOY peacebuilders, so that Ray’s sphere of influence expands;
• develop an internal peer exchange platform, so that other UNOY peacebuilders can learn from Musamba;
• translate more and more UNOY resources, so that Sabeena’s work to engage remote communities is easier.