Phase 1

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HoA, Culture for Peace

The Culture for Peace (C4P) Programme in the Horn of Africa (HoA), seeks to safeguard cultural heritage while fostering economic opportunities in the region. The initiative supports local cultural entities, enhancing livelihoods through market-driven interventions by working with the youth, women and marginalized groups. By preserving both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, Switzerland contributes to improved social cohesion thus contributing to peace and stability across the region.

Country/region	Topic	Period	Budget
Horn of Africa	Culture / development awareness Conflict & fragility Culture & recreation Conflict prevention Development awareness	01.07.2022 - 30.11.2028	CHF 2’300’000

The project in brief

Background	Somali culture places a great emphasis on the importance of family and community, serving as a foundation for social values, relationships, and collective identity. The cultural sector in the Horn of Africa, particularly among the Somali-speaking regions, is highly fragmented, with tangible and intangible cultural heritage (ICH) at risk due to conflict, displacement, and a lack of institutional capacity. Limited economic growth and infrastructure, weak institutions, and lack of access to basic services like education, healthcare, and cultural resources further exacerbate these issues. Despite these challenges, culture in the HoA serves as a critical element for social cohesion and economic development, thus promoting peace and contributing to stablity within and across borders. Cultural expressions, including oral traditions, music, dance, and handicrafts, remain important vectors for identity formation, community dialogue, and reconciliation. These cultural assets also hold economic potential, which can provide sustainable livelihoods for marginalized communities, including women and youth.
Objectives	To enhance social cohesion, promote peacebuilding and strengthen local and regional cultural identities in the HoA, through fostering greater awareness, appreciation, and preservation of shared regional cultural heritage.
Target groups	Government institutions responsible for cultural heritage (local government bodies), Somali National Academy for Arts and Sciences (SOMASA), Horn Heritage. Private entities involved in cultural production and consumption, Mandera blacksmith group.
Medium-term outcomes	Tangible and intangible culture heritage is preserved. Sustainable culture associations / fora provide economic opportunities.
Results	Expected results: Enhanced safeguarding plans for Somali tangible and ICH. Improved and updated data base of Somali tangibe and ICH. Improved tangible and ICH documentation and archiving processes. Increased market-based interventions to enhance the culture industry. Increased inter-regional and cross-border cultural exchange and dialogue. Results from previous phases: Previsously, culture was supported through small scale ad-hoc projects. In 2020, SDC commissioned two assessments: the HoA Culture Sector Assessment, which recommended mapping of tangible and ICH, and the Culture Markets Assessment (2021), which advised the development of networks such as art forums and women's handicraft forums through existing art associations.The Inception phase activities identified key gaps in capacity for cultural preservation and market opportunities. Stakeholder’s engagement identified a need for cultural heritage inventorying, safeguarding and improved market access for local crafts.This is the first phase.
Directorate/federal office responsible	SDC
Project partners	Contract partner Private sector Foreign private sector South/East Implementing partner Main contractor: DT Global Sub-contractor: Somali Arts Foundation
Coordination with other projects and actors	SDC: Regional GBV Programme, Road to Peace Programme. EU: Ignite Culture programme; UNESCO.
Budget	Current phase Swiss budget CHF 2’300’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 509’826 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 224’098 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 7’780’000

Further technical details

Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	OTHER SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY Unallocated / Unspecified
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation	Culture and recreation Civilian peace-building, conflict prevention and resolution Promotion of development awareness (non-sector allocable)
Cross-cutting topics	Conflict reduction
Aid Type	Mandate without fiduciary fund
Project number	7F10950