Interpeace
Formation | 1994 |
---|---|
Type | INGO |
Purpose | Peacebuilding |
Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
Location |
|
Website | interpeace |
Interpeace is an international organization for peacebuilding that supports locally led initiatives around the world. Interpeace tailors its approach to each society and ensures that the work is locally owned and driven. Together with local partners and local teams, Interpeace jointly develops peacebuilding programmes and helps establish processes of change that connect local communities, civil society, government and the international community. The organization works in more than 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Latin America.
In 2017, Interpeace was granted an international organization status by the Federal Council of Ministers of Switzerland. As a strategic partner of the United Nations, Interpeace is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and has offices in Abidjan, Brussels, Guatemala City, Nairobi, New York City and Stockholm.[1]
History[]
The origins of Interpeace date back to 1994, when the United Nations conducted a peacebuilding pilot project, called the 'War-torn Societies' project.[2][3][4] The project then transitioned to become an independent non-profit organization in 2000[5][6] now named Interpeace.[7] Interpeace still has a strategic partnership with the United Nations.[8][9]
Interpeace's Track 6 Approach[]
Interpeace seeks to facilitate positive interactions between three levels, or “tracks”, of society, by strengthening lines of communication and providing spaces for dialogue where previously these may have been weak or completely absent.
The three “tracks” are broadly differentiated by levels of influence and formal organisation, and can be summarised as follows:
Track 1: Political elites and decision-makers
Track 2: Civil society and local government, influencers, think tanks and researchers
Track 3: Communities and individuals within the broader population
Connecting these tracks can help societies move towards a situation in which high-level policies are informed by the knowledge and experience of local communities, and which therefore reflect local realities. This is the essence of the “Track 6” approach: 1 + 2 + 3 = 6.
Interpeace’s mandate is based on two core pillars. The first is strengthening the capacities of societies to manage conflict in non-violent, non-coercive ways by assisting national actors in their efforts to develop social and political cohesion. The second involves assisting policy-makers at the national and international levels to play a more effective role in supporting peacebuilding efforts around the world. The Track 6 approach helps Interpeace bring those pillars together, ensuring that lessons learned in the field are understood and applied, to continue the evolution and improvement of peacebuilding practice.[10]
Structures and People[]
Governing Board[]
- Monica McWilliams (Chair since 2018)
- Matthias Stiefel (Vice-Chair since 2018)
- Martin Aked (Honorary Treasurer since 2013)
- Alan Doss (Member since 2014)
- Andrew Gilmour (Member since 2014)
- Cassam Uteem (Member since 2016)
- Heidi Grau (Member since 2014)
- Necla Tschirgi (Member since 2013)
- John A. Kufuor (Chair Emeritus and Special Advisor)
- Martti Ahtisaari (Chair Emeritus)
Advisory Council[]
- Canada: Ambassador Rosemary McCarney - Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva
- Finland; Ambassador Terhi Hakala - Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations in Geneva
- Netherlands: Mr. Jelte Van Wieren - Director of the Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
- Singapore: Ambassador Foo Kok Jwee, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Singapore to the United Nations Office and other international organisations at Geneva since September 2014.
- Sweden: Ambassador Veronika Bard - Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations in Geneva
Leadership[]
- Scott M. Weber - President
- Simon Gimson - Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
- Almudena Bartayrés Arcas - Senior Director of Global Operations and Chief Financial Officer
- Daniel Hyslop - Head of Learning and Policy - Incoming Director of Policy and IPAT
- Renée Lariviére - Senior Director for Programme Management
- Jean Paul Mugiraneza - Director of Programme Development and Innovation
- Alexandre Munafo - Head of Strategic Partnerships and Communications
Active Programmes[]
West Africa[]
Eastern and Central Africa[]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA Region) and Europe[]
Latin America[]
Asia[]
References[]
- ^ "Our Partners". Geneva Peacebuilding Platform. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ United Nations Research Institute for Social Development "War-torn Societies Procject" Retrieved on 3 February 2012
- ^ IDRC "Interpeace: local solutions, lasting peace" Retrieved on 3 February 2012
- ^ The Global Journal "Interpeace" Retrieved on 27 January 2012
- ^ Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC)"War-torn Societies Project International" Archived 29 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 3 February 2012
- ^ IDRC "Interpeace: local solutions, lasting peace" Retrieved on 3 February 2012
- ^ Swisspeace "K O F F Newsletter Nr. 50 / 01.09.2006" Archived 15 January 2013 at archive.today Retrieved 3 February 2012
- ^ United Nations Office for Project Services(UNOPS) [1] Retrieved on 27 January 2012
- ^ United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) [2] Retrieved on 3 February 2012
- ^ "Our Track 6 Approach". Interpeace. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- Peace organisations based in Switzerland
- International organisations based in Switzerland
- Maison de la Paix
- Organisations based in Geneva