Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding: Social Work Education and Practice in Humanitarian Settings

Abstract

The world is experiencing unprecedented levels of humanitarian crises due to the effects of climate shocks, intra-state and inter-state armed conflict. As of 2020, there were more than 70 million displaced persons globally with the global pandemic making the situation worse. It is expected that the current economic downturn will roll back the gains made in gender equity and poverty level improvements. With old conflicts remaining unresolved, and new ones springing up across the globe, a critical question arises of the role of social workers as agents of conflict resolution and peacemakers in addition to their traditional role of providing psychosocial support. This paper attempts to provide perspectives on the need for mental health social workers to actively and explicitly engage in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. In doing so, the authors will discuss the case of the Wajir Women Peace and Development, a women led organization that shaped the role of local professionals in engaging and sustaining peace in Northern Kenya and beyond. The choice of this organization is based on the personal and work experience of the authors who hails from Wajir and worked as a health and teaching professionals in late 1990s to mid-2000s.