Building stability and UK security
19 September 2012
BUILDING STABILITY AND UK SECURITY
1. We contribute to UK and international security by building trust and cross-cultural understanding.
2. We help people in countries emerging from conflict (e.g. South Sudan, Libya) develop their skills and connect with the wider world.
3. Even in conflict-affected states (e.g. Syria), we remain committed to keep working on building trust for the UK and providing skills and opportunities.
Contributing to UK and international security by building trust and cross-cultural understanding
• By working on behalf of the UK, we build trust for the UK, contributing to the UK’s long-term security.
• We provide opportunities for different perspectives to be shared through the arts, school and community linking, capacity building and networking, reducing tensions and helping to create the cultural and social underpinning for stronger societies.
Building stability in countries emerging from conflict by helping people to develop their skills and connect with the wider world
• Through education and society, English, and our work in the arts, we play a major role in building skills, connecting educational and arts institutions, encouraging links with the wider world, and supporting cultural and economic development.
• We provide opportunities for people to be active and constructive participants in their own societies. Our work also informs and changes perceptions of the UK and its people.
Building trust in conflict-affected states
• In conflict-affected states, we believe it is vital that we continue to work with people who want our services.
FACTS
Nigeria
• In Northern Nigeria and the Niger Delta, we are delivering a reconciliation and stabilisation programme funded by the Department for International Development (DFID). This programme looks at the reasons behind conflict, helps improve conflict management mechanisms and supports the role of women in building peace.
• Through the DFID-funded Justice for All programme, we strengthen the rule of law and its institutions (e.g. police, courts) and make justice accessible to everyone in society, particularly the poor and marginalised.
South Sudan
• We opened our office as soon as the country was established. We have been supporting the development of the South Sudan Police Service for many years, through professional development and English training. We are bringing English language tuition to public servants, many former combatants, helping them to move from conflict to public service. We also brought 30 community activists together from across the country to find out how South Sudanese can work towards community cohesion and peaceful co-existence.
Kenya
• Our Active Citizens programme has directly engaged with over 3,000 people from 11 communities affected by the 2007–08 election violence; social action projects have brought disputants together in more than 30 locations to work towards community healing and reconciliation. We are working with Somali diaspora groups in Kenya to extend the programme to Somalia. Created by the Corporate HQ team For use until 30 April 2014
Afghanistan
• We provide English for the public sector, business leaders, academics, and in support of the legal system. We support language policy for the new Afghan Defence University. Essential military aviators have already graduated from our English language courses. We also work with civil society through the DFID-funded Tawanmandi project – this aims to strengthen its relationship with the Afghan government in order to improve the government’s accountability and responsiveness to its citizens, contributing to stability and security in the country. One of the themes included in all of these initiatives is the participation of women.
Pakistan
• In partnership with Peace Direct (UK), the College of Youth Activism and Development (Pakistan) and the School of Leadership (Pakistan), we have adapted our Active Citizens programme to provide specialised support for young people and community facilitators in developing skills in capacity building and conflict resolution. We have already engaged more than 10,000 young people through the programme, resulting in over 100 social action projects focusing on building peace, human rights, resolving conflict, valuing diversity and connecting police with communities.
Iraq
• We have supported the Ministry of Education to improve English language teaching in schools across the country.
• We have linked more than 30 UK universities with counterparts in Baghdad, Basra and Kurdistan, through a government-sponsored university programme.
• Through our ‘Releasing Potential in Iraqi Schools’ project, we have trained Iraqi teachers, transforming the learning experience of 100,000 Iraqi pupils.
• We helped establish the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq, with 42 musicians representing all of Iraq’s ethnic and religious communities.
Middle East and North Africa
• Through our Young Arab Voices programme, funded by the Arab Partnership initiative, we have helped more than 25,000 young Egyptians, Tunisians and Jordanians to develop the debating skills needed to effect social change and build new institutions.
• Supported by a partnership with Chatham House, the Young Arab Analysts Network International project aims to develop a network of young Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, Egyptian and Jordanian policy analysts who will be able to make a significant contribution in their societies and affect government policy development.
• In Libya, Tunisia and Egypt, we are supporting women in the re-building of their countries. We do so by developing the capacity of civil society organisations that promote women’s rights to influence political processes and enable women to take the lead in changing their communities. This work is funded through the UK government’s Arab Partnership initiative.
