ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how grassroots agencies in Southeast Asia have developed locally driven models of peace building. It proposes four distinct patterns of ownership development: external aiders’ voluntary ownership transfer, reduction of financial dependence, pragmatic collaboration with external aiders, and religious/traditional forms of peacebuilding. When International Cooperation Cambodia, a consortium of external development agencies and Christian mission groups, decided to localize its Food Security, Income generation, Training and Health project, it set a three-year time frame for transition. In the early phases of peacebuilding, local peacebuilders usually had few options but to accept external funding from international organizations or bilateral government agencies. Religious or traditional leaders who enjoy a relatively strong personal or public reputation within their local communities frequently promote this type of collaboration. Using case studies conducted in Cambodia, this chapter discussed empirical evidence concerning whether advanced and authentic local ownership can be promoted in post-war peacebuilding.
