Peace

War and violent conflict currently affect around two billion people worldwide. Their everyday lives are dominated by political uncertainty, scarce resources, and health risks. Even after a war has ended, societies often struggle with its consequences for decades, frequently leading to renewed escalation and violence. A better and more secure future can only be achieved through local peace work and the development of sustainable structures for peaceful coexistence. 

We believe in local and self-determined peacebuilding initiatives led by people who are directly affected by violence and conflict. Our goal is to strengthen partnerships with people and organizations who courageously and persistently advocate for change on the ground, bringing together different perspectives. As a foundation, we are committed to ensuring that local leadership and responsibility are at the heart of international peacebuilding efforts. Through our global work and in our focus regions, West Africa and West Asia (Middle East), we support individuals, structures, and processes that strive for peaceful coexistence and a secure future for all, thereby shaping sustainable peace. 

The path from conflict to sustainable peace takes time and requires measures developed by local peace actors that involve the whole of society. We support our partners and strengthen their resilience through flexible support, self-determined activities, and long-term partnerships. We connect experts to share their experiences and further develop local peace approaches, and we contribute these insights to German and international debates. We also form alliances with organizations worldwide to jointly improve the enabling conditions for local peacebuilding–for more effective, sustainable and future-fit international peacebuilding efforts.