The Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at The University of Queensland will make an important contribution to supporting local development processes and conflict prevention in Vanuatu.
The Centre will partner the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the National Council of Chiefs of Vanuatu (the Malvatumauri) to strengthen the role of traditional leaders in the development process. The project is part of a five year development plan initiated by the Council of Chiefs, with Ausaid contributing $77,000 to the pilot progam.
Agreement was announced after talks between the Head of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs, Chief Paul Tahi, and the Director General of AusAID, Bruce Davis.
Professor Kevin Clements, Director of the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, described the agreement as an exciting collaboration.
“This capacity building partnership offers a great opportunity for the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs and The University of Queensland to learn from each other and for the University to support the chiefs in enhancing their strengths and capacities,” Professor Clements said.
“It is a partnership that seeks to draw on both traditional and modern perspectives and a development project based on mutual respect.”
“We see this as another example of the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies putting research to practical use and at the same time drawing important research value from applied projects.”
The Chiefs identified the need for capacity building so they could better define their roles in relation to formal government, enhance their participation in the development process, and manage the rapid social changes taking place within their communities.
The program will deliver:
• Support for the National Council of Chiefs, Island Council of Chiefs, Area Council of Chiefs, Ward/District Council of Chiefs and Village Council of Chiefs to strengthen the Malvatumauri structure through training and support for strategic, administrative planning and train-the-trainer in peaceful development.
• Tools for working with conflicts through training in conflict management, resolution and transformation and leaderships skills; and workshops to identify the role for Chiefs in the development process.
• Tools to identify possible areas of conflict within local areas, and knowledge about how to combine traditional leadership with new knowledge gained through the pilot program to support peace, security, economic and social development at all levels.
• Capacity building to improve the knowledge, understanding, skills and strengthen the roles of community leaders through exploring links between development frameworks and peace-building.
For further information: contact Lorann Downer, Deputy Director, Office of Marketing and Communications, The University of Queensland 07 3365 1088 or 0413 458 317.
