Development for Peace Education (DPE)

DPE is the governance and democracy organisation promoting peace, participation, empowerment, and citizens’ advocacy. Since its formation in 1989, DPE has worked in the rural and hard to reach areas empowering communities on various initiatives ranging from self-help projects to participation in the public affairs. In 2004, DPE’s community empowerment was transformed to a Constructive Engagement Advocacy which is public participation approach that unleashes citizens’ potential in creating the culture of peace. It educates on and advocates for peaceful resolution of conflicts, provides platform for communities/citizens’ voices to inform (i) budget through community parliament (ii) legislative process through people’s tribunals and community/citizen voting on bills and policies (iii) internal leadership and democracy in the Community Based Organisations and (iv) community-policy maker dialogue through a periodic–Dialogue/Puisano. DPE has 8 Community Animators based in and living with communities in its operational areas. In the same areas, it has now established community libraries with computers and internet used as platform to citizens’ advocacy. Through them citizens have successfully prevented non-consultative reforms law from being promulgated by parliament, prevented parliament from amending constitution without subjecting the proposed amendment to the committees to enable citizen participation, informed the national budget, influenced the nature of national human rights commission through the combination of strategic litigation and constructive engagement advocacy. It has renowned participatory mechanism well known and appreciated in Lesotho and in the region. The DPE has been the ally of IEC in delivering electoral education and voter mobilisation.