Conflict Sensitivity and Peacebuilding Programming

What is the difference between conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding?

If conflict-sensitive programming is the selected approach: As part of a WASH team, you and your colleagues have decided to focus your initiative on building a borehole in an area shared by two competing communities that often resort to conflict over resources. Following hydrogeological assessment, the location of the borehole is defined, and the location of water points is agreed in consultation with representatives from both communities in mutually agreed locations. These planning steps ensured that the delivery of the WASH service is not perceived to favour a certain group and therefore did not exacerbate tensions, making the programming conflict sensitive.

If peacebuilding programming is the selected approach: In this same WASH initiative, you take a step further to not only facilitate discussions between the two communities on a mutually agreeable location for water points, but also assist them in developing collaborative arrangements for the two groups to jointly manage the borehole and build capacities to address the water-related impacts, dynamics and causes of conflict. This inclusive mechanism is further strengthened to become a community platform to open broader areas of collaboration and dialogue (e.g., shared garden and market, etc.). This results in reinforcing positive relationships among groups, thereby strengthening social cohesion at the community level, making it a peacebuilding programme.