Multilateral peacebuilding in practice: addressing farmer-herder disputes along the border of Sierra Leone and Guinea

Conflicts between farmers and herders are a persistent problem in the Sahel. In this context, local-level peacebuilding projects conceptualised under the idea of the humanitarian-development-peace ‘triple nexus’ have become more common in recent years, although guidance on how to effectively address the ‘peace’ component is scarce. This paper presents new evidence on the effects of a multifaceted project addressing farmer-herder conflicts along the border of Sierra Leone and Guinea with support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. This project included agricultural support for climate-adapted livelihoods; peace messaging via radio and other channels; improved infrastructure for border crossings; and support for local conflict resolution mechanisms. We measure the effectiveness of these components by drawing on satellite imagery, a household survey, and qualitative interviews. We find that the agricultural components were effective in Sierra Leone; that people perceived the project as being effective at reducing conflict; and some suggestive evidence of reduced conflict for some subgroups. We also identify some gaps between the project’s theory of change and the conditions on the ground. Finally, our measurements of spillover effects across villages have implications both for project design and for future research on peacebuilding.