Abstract:
The main aim of this study was to explore indigenous knowledge for conflict managementof some
communities in southwest Ethiopia and to develop a web-based system forits preservation and
dissemination. The study adopted a qualitative research approach for exploring IK using
focusgroup discussion, interview and observation.Questionnaireswere used for quantitative data
collection. Drupal version 7.6installingon xampp local host server wasused for application
system development. In this study the target populations were from Mana woreda and Mareqo
woreda. The total inhabits were around 257,995. Thereason to select those study sites was that
they possess experience of successful conflict managementthrough traditional manner.The
findings in this study showed that there exists long timetrend among Mana and Mareqo woreda
people to manage their conflicts mostly through traditional mechanisms such as“Jaarsummaa”
and “Raga-Mara”. The communities have a belief that traditional mechanisms are much better
than the modern court procedure,it is possible to produce win-win result which is influential for
dispute parties’ future friendly and family relationship, easily accessible, time saving, less costly,
no perjury tolerated and vital for social stability.Data collected during the study from local
organizations’ employeeindicated that out of the total respondents 94 (96.9%) of them were
familiar with the practices of such indigenous knowledge, but 91 (93.8%) of them indicated that
they had never used traditional manner of conflict management web-application system.A webbased system that preservesthe actual conflict management mechanisms was developed in a local
host server, the system has a features that facilitates the access of files and documents for users
according to their role; a means to share practices of conflict management in different areas;
alert sending form that enable users to share possible occurrences of conflict and a way to
redirectusers to related topics in order to download files.The study revealed that traditional
manner of conflict management plays vital role for settling peaceful environment within the
communities of southwest Ethiopia.So system development that uses new technology for its
preservation and dissemination especially to youthis recommended, in addition the future studies
should work in exploring uncovered study areas and developing android application system in
preserving the IK.
