Picture by Jasmin Schmitz
Field Research in the Côte d’Ivoire
Last September, Jasmin Schmitz embarked on her third field research trip to gain insights into Regional Infrastructures for Peace (RI4P). After speaking with peacebuilders in Ghana and public officials at the ECOWAS Commission, she travelled to the Côte d’Ivoire to understand how peacebuilding networks are organized if there is no singular central institution charged with it. She also wanted to understand how existing networks can adapt to changing circumstances, given the security dynamics in flux in the Sahel region and the impact of climate change on peace. Her first stop was Abidjan, followed by further travel towards the center of the country to Bouaké.
Jasmin began her research in Abidjan, engaging in conversations with public officials affiliated with institutions involved in peacebuilding. While there is no single entity in the Côte d’Ivoire that oversees these efforts, various institutions address different aspects of peacebuilding, such as mediation, peace education, and early warning. Jasmin capitalized on this opportunity to gain insight into the collaborative dynamics among these actors and the role of civil society. To this end, she contacted international, national and local civil society organizations/groups. Jasmin found it particularly interesting to learn how these actors have developed relationships with one another through informal mechanisms.
After her stay in the economic capital, Jasmin continued her field research in Bouaké, a city one hour north of Yamoussoukro, the political capital. During the two violent conflicts in recent Ivorian history, Bouaké saw many clashes between conflict parties. Travelling there provided the opportunity to speak with local peacebuilders about how they approach peace in a previously divided society. Land ownership remains a highly contested issue, and one that local groups frequently face. Conversations with different actors (national, sub-national and local) underlined that local peacebuilders alone face challenges in addressing larger conflict triggers. The time in Bouaké allowed our research fellow to gain an even deeper insight into how networks are constructed among different actors and which challenges they face.
