Expertise
We work with those affected by conflict to end violence and create the conditions for peaceful coexistence and positive social change.
Our work supports building peaceful relationships between all sectors of society, developing and supporting societies’ mechanisms for keeping the peace, and helping to ensure that everyone can live satisfying, peaceful lives.
Working with those affected by conflict
We believe that violent conflict can only be resolved sustainably by those directly affected by it. The solutions to societal problems must by their very nature be applied from within society, which means appropriate changes need to be defined and achieved by people and organisations in the conflict-affected places where we work. The participation and collaboration of those most affected by the conflict, and people with diverse perspectives, are essential for both ending violence and building sustainable peace.
Building peaceful relationships
Relationships between people who disagree are necessary both to address immediate direct violence and to bring about changes to institutions, attitudes and behaviours that underpin structural violence. We work to support the building of trusting relationships between powerholders and wider society (known as vertical relationships) and among people across society (known as horizontal relationships).
Keeping the peace
Societies have developed multiple ways to manage relationships between people, and in particular disagreements or tensions between their members, without use of violence. We work to support these institutions to work inclusively and equitably, and where necessary adapt.
Living peaceful lives
In a peaceful society, people have fair access to services of decent standards that enable them to live in dignity. We work to address structural limitations and ensure fair access to services, to enable all people to live their diverse lives peacefully. As well as satisfying individual needs, such work reduces the risk of some groups’ grievances resulting in violence and enables diverse contributions to peaceful social change.
Our country and global teams and partners provide context-specific insights on the peacebuilding needs where we work. You can find out more about some of our approaches and areas of expertise below.
Our approach
We support the integration of conflict and gender sensitivity practices into the operations of organisations working in fragile and conflict-affected places.
Themes
Donate today and help us make peace a reality
We believe in a world where people resolve their differences without violence. From the grassroots to policy level, we bring people together to build sustainable peace.