Roles of Women’s Groups in Conflict Prevention in Taraba State

This study examines the roles played by women's groups in conflict prevention in Taraba State, North East Nigeria, a state characterised by diverse ethnic populations and recurring inter-communal tensions. Women's collective action in conflict-affected communities has gained scholarly and policy attention as evidence mounts that grassroots women's networks provide early warning, active mediation, and social stabilisation functions that formal peace mechanisms often miss. Employing an exploratory qualitative design, data were collected through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with members of women's associations, traditional women leaders, and civil society representatives across Jalingo, Bali, and Wukari local government areas. The theoretical framework draws from feminist peacebuilding theory and the capability approach. Findings indicate that women's groups in Taraba State engage in a range of preventive activities including monitoring inter-ethnic social tensions, intervening in domestic disputes before they escalate to community-level conflicts, and lobbying traditional and government leaders for dialogue. Despite these contributions, women leaders report systematic exclusion from formal conflict resolution platforms and inadequate funding for their peace activities. Recommendations include creating gender-dedicated seats on Taraba State peace committee structures, providing capacity building grants for women's peace groups in high-risk communities, and documenting women's peacebuilding contributions for policy advocacy purposes. Keywords: women's groups, conflict prevention, Taraba State, gender, peacebuilding.