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“Sailing in the Complexity of Peacebuilding: My Process of Connecting Dots” 

By Haruna Fukaya (Duke MIDP ’25)

Summer 2024 AFE Blog Post Series

 

The Applied Field Experience (AFE) which is part of the Rotary Peace Fellowship has allowed me to conduct two different programs in two cities this summer. My AFE is comprised of the following components: an internship at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Rabat, Morocco, and participation in the Duke Global Policy (DGP) Program in Geneva.

I am now interning at IOM Morocco. IOM is a part of the United Nations System as a leading agency in the field of migration. My internship in IOM Morocco has given me many insights into how the UN agency works with local partners on the ground to tackle multidimensional migration issues.

The Kingdom of Morocco is in North Africa, facing both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, making it a part of migration paths between the African continent and European and North American countries. As a country of destination, departure, and transit of migrant populations, Morocco was estimated to have around 103,000 international migrants, including irregular and regular migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, in 2020.

The government of Morocco is actively involved in international and national-level initiatives related to migration issues. However, considering the increasing need for immigration, emigration, and long-term settlement patterns, the country is under much pressure and has many responsibilities. Morocco adopted the National Strategy for Immigration and Asylum (SNIA) in 2014, which includes sectoral and cross-cutting action programs related to education, health, shelter, social protection, employment, human trafficking, international cooperation, and governance. IOM Morocco supports this government’s initiative, ensuring that migration contributes to the country’s development efforts.

IOM Morocco has a wide variety of operations, including facilitating the reintegration of Moroccans returning from other countries, assisting the voluntary return of foreign migrants from Morocco to their country of origin, supporting the integration of migrants in socio-economic activities in Morocco, promoting social cohesion, empowering the youth population, and protecting vulnerable migrant populations.

As a Protection Intern, I am assigned to the Assistance to Vulnerable Migrants (AVM) Unit, which is in charge of providing protection and assistance to migrants vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and abuse, including victims of trafficking. More specifically, I am engaged in projects to improve the access to the protection services available for vulnerable migrant populations. In Morocco, there are many local institutions and non-governmental actors on the ground who are actively working to protect migrants and serve the vulnerable local population. However, the challenges include the lack of consolidated data on migrants’ needs and trends, a harmonized response plan, and the lack of an efficient coordination mechanism. The projects aim to contribute to the Moroccan government’s effort to strengthen access to protection services for migrants and vulnerable populations.

This is the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the second-largest mosque currently functioning in Africa and known for its beautiful architecture. My AFE is also such an impressive journey from the Land of the Rising Sun (Japan) to the Land of the Setting Sun (Morocco).

Along with the internship, I attended the Duke Global Policy (DGP) Program in Geneva during the last week of June. I had invaluable experience deepening my understanding of humanitarian actions, crises, human rights, refugees, and migration. I was exposed to tremendous opportunities to acquire experimental and academic perspectives on different actors and approaches that embody humanitarian actions today. Various talks and visits from distinguished organizations and speakers enabled me to understand the architecture of humanitarian actions, conventions, and regulations that outline each mandate and intervention of the organizations from the high level to the grassroots level. Also, I learned about the efforts of organizations to reflect the most current challenges, such as climate-related crises.

With my Duke Geneva Program cohort in the humanitarian action course. We had such an intensive course week, building long-lasting bonds, trust, and friendships

Through my AFE, I became more exposed to the sensitivity of the human impact of crises and their vast spectrum. Each situation affects a person differently depending on the nature of the crisis, the person’s legal and socioeconomic status, local contexts, legislative frameworks, etc. Each person has a life and a story; there is no one-size-fits-all solution for assistance to any situation needing humanitarian and/or development assistance. Also, we must remember that each intervention has a positive or negative consequence. The more I learn about these issues, the greater complexity I face. However, this is where your creativity and good “sense” are challenged, and it is what makes the work exciting, stimulating, and empowering.

I started my Rotary Peace Fellowship after about ten years of experience in the international development field, wanting to learn more about the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and what it looks like on the ground. My AFE, this dual experience combining practical fieldwork and high-level academic and professional learning, furnishes me with concrete insights into peacebuilding and international development. Especially now that I have a clearer comprehension of the work of humanitarian assistance itself, it is an excellent opportunity for me to think about my future career as a peacebuilder.

This one is also from the Hassan II Mosque. I reflect my AFE onto this mosaic and design, which are so organic and connected. Everything I am experiencing now is a process of connecting the dots, which helps me ground myself. 

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