Understanding community dynamics and intersection of changing geopolitical context

After events in neighbouring Afghanistan, Alert proposes consultations with communities in Dushanbe and border areas (Khatlon, Mountainous Badakhshan (GBAO) oblasts) in Tajikistan to understand new border dynamics, concerns of local communities, the intersection between changing social, economic and geopolitical context and conflict dynamics, the risks of political or religious extremism, and social norms (including SGBV). The information gathered from these consultations and research will be drafted into 2 separate reports: a private report for CSSF on community dynamics and risks of extremism (due government sensitivity to the topic in Tajikistan) and a public report in Tajik and English about the prevalence of violence against women and girls in the target areas. We see a clear relationship between preventing violence at the family and community level and resilience to fragility and extremist behaviour from the local to the national level; therefore, there is a clear link between understanding community concerns and dynamics (social/economic/geopolitical) alongside the prevalence and drivers of SGBV to be able to reduce violence overall. These results can contribute to increased resilience of target communities to different forms of violence and conflict informed by an ever-changing environment (social, political, economic, geopolitical) that exacerbates fragility. The two pieces of evidence that we can gather are inextricably linked and complement the other in terms of trying to understand the complex intersection between them and how to prevent conflict and violence emerging in both national and international programming. Indeed, the information will open spaces for peacebuilding in the future and allow for the appreciation of local voices in national and regional agendas on cross-border dynamics, regional security and stability, development, and humanitarian concerns (especially local views on Afghan refugees). Local voices (in particular influencers) will have lower suspicions around dialogue and civil society and have the confidence to engage in further initiatives.