In December 2024, members of the Hidden Peacebuilding Network met in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss our ongoing projects in Burundi, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. We reflected on our progress and planned the final report to summarise these projects. Our discussions also focused on writing journal articles and book chapters to share our insights with a broader audience.

A key moment in the meeting was our World Café session, in which we engaged with local faith actors (LFAs) from the East Africa region. These discussions taught us a lot about the contributions of LFAs to peacebuilding and the challenges they face in their work. One of the main insights was the crucial role LFAs play in peacebuilding. They are deeply rooted in their local communities. They provide continuous support before, during, and after crises. Their presence in the local communities enables them to understand conflicts in ways external actors cannot.

Furthermore, the local faith actors contribute in many ways rather than just preventing violence. They also help build long-term peace. They provide spiritual care, counselling, and emotional support, assisting communities to cope with trauma. Because they are so connected to their communities, LFAs can identify potential conflict triggers early and act before tensions rise. They also create spaces for victims to share their stories, heal, and seek support, helping grassroots reconciliation. Their moral authority allows them to discuss complex issues like forgiveness and reconciliation, which others often avoid.

Despite their significant contributions, LFAs face several challenges. One major issue is the lack of formal training in peacebuilding. While trained in theology, they often lack skills in conflict resolution, negotiation, and post-conflict recovery. This gap in training limits their ability to handle complex peacebuilding challenges. LFAs also usually get left out of decision-making. External organizations and senior religious leaders overlook them, even though LFAs are vital to implementing peace efforts on the ground. This exclusion weakens their ability to help create lasting peace.

LFAs face resource challenges, too, such as limited funding, ethnic tensions, and leadership issues. In many cases, leadership roles in faith-based groups exclude women and young people. Women often face barriers to leadership, and young people are sidelined despite their potential to drive change. Moreover, although forgiveness is a key focus, LFAs sometimes miss out on the deeper processes of reconciliation, which are necessary for long-term peace and healing in post-conflict societies.

The discussions in Nairobi highlighted the critical role that LFAs play in peacebuilding efforts, particularly in conflict-affected regions. Their deep community ties, moral authority, and long-term presence make them invaluable actors in conflict transformation. However, LFAs need greater support, training, and inclusion in decision-making processes to maximise their impact. As we continue our work within the Hidden Peacebuilding Network, the insights gained from this meeting will shape how we engage with LFAs and advocate for their inclusion in broader peacebuilding efforts. Recognising their challenges and addressing these barriers is key to building sustainable peace in regions affected by conflict.

As we concluded our experience in Nairobi, we reflected on the significance of the environment in shaping our discussions and collective commitment to peacebuilding. The city’s rich food, wildlife, and serene sunsets provided a thoughtful backdrop for these conversations. Despite coming from different contexts, our shared experiences of conflict underscored the common challenges we face. This reinforced our collective responsibility to address global (dis)order and highlighted the importance of collaboration across diverse backgrounds in advancing peacebuilding efforts.