Bobo-Dioulasso: The implementation consortium of the Peaceful Cross-Border Pastoral Mobility and Social Stability in the Sahel Program (MOPSS) organized training to strengthen the political dialogue capacities of members of committees and consultation frameworks 'Communication, negotiation and mediation for non-violent conflict management'. It was from April 15 to 19, 2024 in Bobo-Dioulasso. This capacity building training is part of the implementation of the 'Peaceful Cross-Border Pastoral Mobility and Social Stability in the Sahel Phase 2' Program (MOPSS-2). For five days, the members of the committees and consultation frameworks were equipped with 'Communication, negotiation and mediation for non-violent conflict management (GNVC)'. The objective of this training, according to the organizers, is to give the participants the basics to prevent and manage the conflict situations they face as a stakeholder and as a speaker. Co-organized by the Dutch Development Organization (SNV), leader of the MOPSS-2 imp lementation consortium, and the Association for the Promotion of Livestock in the Sahel and Savane (APESS), the training brought together around thirty participants from Mali, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. According to trainer Vikki Grime, the session was structured around three key themes. 'From the first days we worked on communication skills. Then we saw how to apply these communication skills in the negotiation process,' she emphasized. According to him, the third theme was devoted to mediation techniques. For her, this approach is not new, but it is also not known. Hence the importance of this training. A beneficial initiative The Secretary General of the Hauts-Bassins region, Abraham Somdo, representing the governor, welcomed the initiative of this training which, in his understanding, will improve social cohesion in the sub-region. For him, the theme developed is more than relevant. 'At a time when our countries are tormented by terrorists, with the consequences of threatening our legendary 'good living together', the peaceful and shared management of our natural resources, the harmonious coexistence between our diverse communities, teaching actors- keys to better communicate , negotiate and negotiate, can only be welcomed,' he insisted. As for the facilitator of natural resource management in the waterfalls region, Moustapha Ouattara, also a member of APESS, he considered that this training is essential. It will, he said, make it possible to standardize the positions of the three countries in relation to the management and prevention of conflicts in the cross-border area. For the regional director of Animal and Fisheries Resources of Korhogo, Dr Issif Ouattara, this workshop is welcome in the sense that the entire cross-border area is confronted with these types of conflicts. 'This training has given us an asset to enable us to manage the various conflicts between the different protagonists in a more peaceful manner,' suggested Dr Ouattara from Côte d'Ivoire. According to him, the training will a llow everyone to change their positions on conflict management. And to the Malian Adama Dembélé, to indicate that this workshop was very beneficial for him. Source: Burkina Information Agency
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