The Role of Farming Cooperatives in Fostering Resilient Peacebuilding Society

Abstract

This research highlights the transformative role of farming cooperatives in fostering resilience, reconciliation, and stability in post-genocide Rwanda. After the 1994 genocide, which claimed over one million lives and deeply divided Rwandan society, the nation faced challenges of rebuilding trust and social cohesion amidst food insecurity. Despite efforts like the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission and Gacaca courts, bridging the divide between genocide survivors and perpetrators remained difficult. The Rwandan government emphasized peacebuilding and economic recovery, with farming cooperatives playing a central role in addressing food insecurity and promoting reconciliation. Farming cooperatives offered numerous benefits, such as job creation, access to financial resources, agricultural inputs, and training. They served as independent spaces where conflicting parties could interact, dismantling mistrust and stereotypes. The cooperatives supported shared economic activities, fostering interpersonal connections and collective healing. Women played a vital role in reviving agriculture, particularly as many men were killed, fled, or imprisoned due to the genocide. The study underscores the broader implications of farming cooperatives in post-conflict recovery, demonstrating their potential to unite communities and promote societal resilience. Rwanda’s experience offers valuable lessons for policymakers and practitioners worldwide, showcasing the power of cooperatives as drivers of peacebuilding and sustainable development in divided societies