The Center for Research and Dialogue (CRD) in South-Central Somalia

The Center for Research & Dialogue is an independent not-for profit organization, based in Somalia, that aims to promote the social economic and political rebuilding of the country. The Center uses participatory research as a mean to facilitate processes of dialogue, consensus building, policy development and institutional capacity building at the national and local levels.

CRD is an affiliate of the war-torn societies project international, whose Somali program is designed to assist local and national actors as well as international organizations in responding more effectively to the challenges of overcoming conflict, preventing its reoccurence and building a lasting peace in Somalia. In Somalia, CRD has been working in partnership with local and international institutions, civil society groups, the private sector, community leaders, local and international NGOs such as Interpeace. The latter is an independent international peace building organization and a strategic partner of the United Nations (UN). It was created by the UN in 1994, and became an independent organization in 2000, while keeping a link with the mother organization. This enables Interpeace to intervene either as an independent NGO or as a UN initiative.

Legal form of organization	NGO
Country / Region	Somalia
Website
Objective(s)	CRD and Interpeace have been working in the Somali region since 1996. Their objective is to consolidate peace throughout the Somali region through a consensus-oriented approach that is gathering all stakeholders in the conflict and promoting dialogue to reach agreements based on consensus whereas majority-based agreements have led in the past to increasing tensions between clans. Both organizations also promote integrated approaches to peace building, of which reforming the State is an important aspect. They combine traditionally distinct disciplines such as human rights, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, environment, conflict resolution, security and reinforcement of the rule of law. They encourage changes at the local and national levels in the economic, political and social sphere through partnerships with civil society and government institutions in order to be effective in the complexity of the Somali conflict.

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