DDG’s community safety approach takes its starting point in the belief that freedom from the threat of psychological or physical violence is both a basic human need and a basic human right. It emphasises participatory visioning, planning and implementation and focuses at the grassroots level on bringing members of a community together to identify and develop solutions to their problems. As such DDG’s community safety projects not only aim at improving the immediate security situation, but also at strengthening the target communities’ capacity to resist pressures and prevent and resolve behaviour which contribute to violent conflict.

A differentiated approach with responses tailored to meet the challenges of each individual context is necessary.  However, on an overall level DDG’s community safety projects usually encompass the following five components:

• Strengthening local institutions and enhancing local capacity for addressing safety needs
• Addressing small arms as a tool of violence
• Building capacity for conflict management and peace
• Addressing immediate threats to life and limbs by explosive remnants of war
• Strengthening relationships between security providers and communities

Within these five components interventions usually include both long term interventions aimed at improving knowledge and skills and quick impact interventions aimed at making behavioural change easy.

On the right is a link for a soundslide on Community Safety in Somaliand.