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Focus Area Approach

A bit of theory…

FLICT’s involvement in conflict Transformation is
carried out against the backdrop of a theoretical framework of three focus areas:
Focus Area 1: Transforming cultural identities
towards an inclusive society
Focus Area 2: Inter-ethnic and inter-religious
linkages for conflict transformation
Focus Area 3: Civic participation for democratic
and plural forms of governance

The decision to internally cluster projects in regard to these focus areas is rooted in the following theoretical assumption, which helps FLICT to maintain a balanced and broad portfolio:

To bring about a peaceful change in a society is a very complex aim. Accordingly complex or multi-layered has to be the approach in order to achieve sustainable results. Interventions will have to take place on various levels, which interlink and influence each other. Therefore FLICT decided to be active on the following three levels :
Personal level Referring to an individual’s attitudes and assumptions
Relational level: Referring to all kinds of inter-personal behaviour, contact, communication, and behaviour
Structural level Referring to the more deep seated organization of personal relationships (access to power, social conditions etc.) in different systems ranging from families to whole states and societies.

All levels have their influence on a society and can contribute to a change towards or away from peace, with the relational level being the (most) visible one.

Approach and Focus Areas

To create a Sri Lanka as we envision – a peaceful and pluralistic society that encompasses the needs and rights of all people in the country and is able to resolve its conflicts non-violently – we will need to work with partners on all three levels.
Therefore we screen if incoming proposals work in one or several of these areas.
The Focus Areas of our work correspond to the levels in which we would like to bring about change. Focus Area 1 dealing with the personal, Focus Area 2 with the relational and Focus Area 3 with the structural level.
All our partners and organisations that want to be involved with FLICT should understand this framework and develop projects that work within one or more of these focus areas.


If you are interested in a more profound explanation of Peace building and Conflict transformation theories and methods, please refer to the section Learning with us or download the FLICT booklet on Concept & Structures.

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