Weaving livelihoods into peacebuilding

When we returned to our village in 2007, there was no relationship between us and the people we found here. Now our two communities live together; we share our joys and woes. My advice to everyone: people who live together should consider themselves of the same father and mother.”

- A female participant

Concordis is building resilience through economic diversification away from agriculture.

At the height of the pandemic, there was little availability of face masks in the south of Mauritania. We turned crisis into opportunity. Concordis obtained funding to make face masks and used it to enable women-led cooperatives made up of women from both communities to create shared livelihoods.

• More face masks means COVID-19 is less likely to spread

• Investing in womens' livelihoods makes them more independent

• Income can be invested in agricultural methods that increase yield and food security

• Increased food security improves resilience to shocks like crop failure

• Generates sustainable income for the members

This is what conflict transformation looks like. Women who were on different sides of the conflict now have a shared livelihood, a reason to build peace.

• Purchased 60 sewing machines and materials

• Trained 60 women in their use across 29 villages

• The women sell the facemasks on at low cost

• Profits are reinvested in building shared livelihoods