Since 2007 COMESA has been implementing Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) activities through the implementation of the Trading for Peace Project. The Project was initiated following a Decision of the Seventh Meeting of the COMESA Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Djibouti in November 2006 and its overall objective is geared towards supporting post-conflict reconstruction, development, and peacebuilding at the cross-border areas of Democratic Republic of Congo and its eastern neighbours (Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda), and Zambia in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. The Trading for Peace Project compliments the AU PCRD Policy which was operationalized by the AU in 2005 to assist African countries emerging out of conflict in the consolidation of peace and prevent relapses into conflicts.

By using trade as a tool to facilitate cross-border trade and improve post-conflict communities’ livelihoods, various efforts were made to enhance their socio-economic conditions through the promotion of human rights, justice and reconciliation through sensitization and targeted capacity-building activities such as training on entrepreneurship (business and financial management skills), and conflict resolution skills.

In the implementation of the above capacity-building activities, CSOs comprising of small-scale cross-borders, women and youth groups were actively involved.