Examining the Role of Civil Society Organisations in Conflict Transformation in Plateau State

This study examines the role of civil society organisations in conflict transformation processes in Plateau State, a state in North Central Nigeria with a protracted history of inter-communal conflict primarily along religious and ethnic fault lines. Civil society organisations, including faith-based groups, women's associations, and peace-focused NGOs, occupy a critical space between government security responses and community-level peacebuilding that formal institutional mechanisms often fail to reach. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with representatives of 15 civil society organisations and 25 community leaders across Jos North, Jos South, and Mangu local government areas. The theoretical framework is grounded in conflict transformation theory and Lederach's conceptual framework for transforming conflict. Findings indicate that civil society organisations in Plateau State contribute to conflict transformation through inter-group dialogue facilitation, trauma healing programs, economic reconciliation initiatives, and civic education campaigns promoting peaceful coexistence. However, challenges including inadequate funding, limited coordination, and occasional security risks faced by civil society workers limit their sustained impact. Recommendations include establishing a government-funded civil society peace fund in Plateau State, creating an inter-agency platform for civil society-government coordination on peacebuilding, and protecting civil society peace workers through security protocols and legal frameworks. Keywords: civil society, conflict transformation, Plateau State, NGOs, peacebuilding.