Abstract Community development projects have in fact claimed a better way in contributing to socio-economic development and peacebuilding in the conflict affected societies around the globe. Pakistan, since last couple of decades faces civil and militant conflict in number of regions particularly bordering Afghanistan. Simultaneously, the government of Pakistan and national/international nongovernmental organizations planned and implemented many socio-economic development projects not only for the welfare of the affected population but also to bring sustainable peace through development interventions. This study aims to examine the contribution of the community development projects on socioeconomic development and peacebuilding in the conflict affected merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study applied ethnographic approach and collected primary data through interviews, focus group discussions and participant observations. The sample is composed of 85 participants from various locations in four affected merged districts as well as the government and Nongovernment organizations officials involved in implementation of aid and community development projects. Over 70% of the respondents agreed that development projects including livelihood improvement, skills enhancement, Vocational Training Centers for Women, micro credits, economic revitalization program for men, and the Sabaoon program for youth rehabilitation and agricultural development have significantly contributed to fulfillment of the basic necessities of the affected population. The social sectors including health, education, political awareness, human rights and social safety have received major focus and aid to motivate the public and bring peace in the society. However, at grassroot level, the participation of the common public, gender consideration and access of poor class remained a question mark. Because of the low participation of the various categories of population, the results of the development interventions in the context of peacebuilding continued to be minimal. The finding indicates that lack of professional skills and the influence of local elders in peacebuilding measures has largely affected the goals of projects. Similarly, the least focus to the revival of local cultural practices for peacebuilding disrupted the sustainable peace in merged districts. The suggestions emphasize the need for integrated, participatory and context-specific community development strategies to achieve long-term stability and peace in conflict affected regions. Key Words: Development projects, Peacebuilding, Sustainable peace, conflict affected regions, community development An explanation of how your academic paper relates to the theme “Innovative Pathways to Thriving Communities: Technology, People, and Place-based Collaboration.” The research focus on practices of community development projects contribution in socioeconomic development and peace building on the conflict affected merged district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. The communities in these landscapes have been highly affected by the militant conflicts for the last couple of decades. Community participation in rural areas of Pakistan particularly in development projects are highly constrained. The social, cultural, political and religious sensitivities are considered as resilient to participation of marginalized population, particularly women, minority and even user groups in community development programs. Similarly, the government institutions and elite community are highly resilient to participation of general population in the development projects. The post conflict community development interventions have improved the socio-economic condition of the affected population, however, the goal of achieving peace remained a dream. This is because of noninvolvement of the stakeholders in the implementation of the aid and development projects. How lack of participation of various groups have impacted the collective solution of sustaining peace in the affected regions. These questions of research particularly relate to the conference theme of ‘People-Driven Solutions – Emphasize the central role of community members in driving innovation, focusing on inclusive practices that empower diverse voices and talents. Similarly, the research also analyzes the social and cultural aspects of the communities which were resilient to community participation in development programs, but the government and NGOs paved least focus to revival of social and cultural practices of the community in the context of conflict resolutions. This aspect of the research belongs to the third theme of the conference “Place-Based Collaboration”. Therefore, the research covers the broader themes of the conference and would contribute to theoretical discussion of the community participation practice in development program.
