International Alert launches a new resource to showcase local peace efforts in the South Caucasus
A new digital platform that seeks to promote local peacebuilding in the South Caucasus has officially launched. The Caucasus Peacebuilding Portal sheds light on civil society efforts to address the conflicts in the region and enhance dialogue between societies.
The Portal serves as a knowledge hub for peace experts, policymakers, and all those committed to stability in the South Caucasus.
About the Caucasus Peacebuilding Portal
It features expert conflict analysis from diverse viewpoints, examples of locally led peace initiatives and stories about the human cost of conflicts in the region.
The website is available in English and Russian, with some resources also in Armenian and Azerbaijani. It has been developed by civil society organisations from across the South Caucasus with support from International Alert and funding from the European Union (EU).
Why a website about peacebuilding in the South Caucasus?
Conflicts in the region, including the conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, have affected thousands of people and undermined trust within and between communities. The Portal provides reliable information on locally led peacebuilding to overcome these challenges.
It focuses on the efforts supported through EU programmes, including the European Partnership for the Peaceful Settlement of the Conflict over Nagorny Karabakh (EPNK) and the ongoing EU4Peace initiative.
They mainly seek to: help affected communities understand civic peacebuilding, increase their participation in conflict resolution and decision-making, and encourage dialogue about the conflict, including in the media and among thought leaders.
What can you find on the Portal?
For example, the Portal features:
- Cross-border media collaboration through weekly TV programmes co-produced by Yerevan Press Club and Baku Press Club, bringing together experts in various fields from Armenia and Azerbaijan to discuss political developments affecting the context.
- A training and development programme for young peace activists from the region.
- Women’s analysis of the conflict impact and their thoughts on the role they could play in peace processes, captured through dedicated safe spaces.
- Comparative conflict studies examining lessons from peace processes in Northern Ireland and the Basque Country for the South Caucasus context.
- Educational films and other outreach products exploring conflict history and grassroots peace perspectives.
Marina Nagai, International Alert’s Europe Director, said:
Achieving lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus is possible. Key to success are patient, persistent daily efforts and a balanced approach focusing on maintaining lines of contact and creating spaces where opposing views can be heard and understood.
Nouneh Sarkissian, director of the Media Initiatives Center, whose work is featured on the Portal, added:
Peacebuilding is a complex and unpredictable journey with no guaranteed outcomes. It relies on dedicated individuals and teams who focus on preventing violence, fostering dialogue, and finding common ground through decades of conflict. The Caucasus Peacebuilding Portal unites their efforts on a single platform. With its extensive and diverse collection of resources, this platform is a unique and invaluable tool.
Since 2003, International Alert has collaborated with local partners in the South Caucasus to foster cross-conflict dialogue and explore innovative pathways to peace through conflict-sensitive approaches.
The Caucasus Peacebuilding Portal has been developed by International Alert in collaboration with and based on content provided by international and local partners from across the South Caucasus. The terminology used on the Portal, including place names, reflects that used by partners. Views, opinions, and materials featured on the Portal are solely those of the authors and should under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of International Alert or the European Union.
