By Tunde Oso

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has intensified efforts to strengthen peace-building, grievance management, and community resilience systems across Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) in Delta State through a series of targeted capacity-building workshops.

The intervention brought together Peacebuilding Committee members of the Egbema-OPUDIS, Agbonu Ogulagha Ibe, and Warri Kingdom Coastal HCDTs for intensive non adversarial training focused on conflict management approaches, dialogue facilitation, conflict early warning and response, and localization of resilience strategies within host communities.

Held in Warri, the workshops convened the HCDT Peacebuilding Committee members, traditional leaders, security agencies, local government representatives, and other stakeholders to strengthen local peace infrastructure and promote coordinated approaches to conflict prevention across riverine communities.

The workshops build on the momentum of the recently concluded Ugboland HCDT Peacebuilding Committee capacity strengthening and resilience localization event in Ondo State, reinforcing PIND’s broader strategy to institutionalize community-led peacebuilding structures across the Niger Delta.

Speaking on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director, Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo, PIND’s Peacebuilding Manager, Dr. David Udofia, emphasized that sustainable peace and development in host communities depend on the strength of local peace systems. “Peacebuilding cannot be reactive. Communities must have structures that can anticipate tensions, manage grievances early, and promote dialogue before conflicts escalate. By strengthening HCDT Peacebuilding Committees, we are helping communities build resilience systems that support stability, trust, and long-term development,” he said.

Participants explored practical approaches for strengthening stakeholder engagement, improving collaboration with security agencies, and enhancing coordination between HCDTs, traditional institutions, youth groups, women leaders, and peace actors.

Mrs. Doris Ademola, the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Warri Kingdom HCDT, described the training as timely and impactful.

“This workshop has helped us better understand how to manage grievances and engage our communities more constructively. We are leaving with practical tools that will help us respond to tensions early and strengthen peace within our communities,” he said.

The intervention is expected to strengthen understanding of Peacebuilding Committee mandates, improve mediation and conflict prevention capacities, deepen collaboration with security institutions, and support the localization of resilience strategies within participating HCDTs.

The workshops also align with PIND’s Phase IV strategic focus on systems strengthening, resilience localization, and community-driven peacebuilding approaches that enable peaceful coexistence and sustainable development outcomes across the Niger Delta.