Peace Development and Conflict Prevention

The Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations promotes with the programme zivik international peace projects in crisis regions and advises both non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Federal Foreign Office in this field of activity. The programme not only provides support to civil conflict resolution efforts but also contributes to strengthening networks between state and non-state actors.

The projects can be divided in the subject areas:

Dealing with the Past,

Qualification Programmes,

Protecting People,

Promoting Dialogue,

Peace Education,

Peace Journalism.

Currently the Institute of Foreign Cultural Relations looks after the following projects:

Schools for Peace in Chechnya,

Marching for Peace in Tajikistan,

Peace Caravan as well as Tolerance and Peace in Burundi,

Peace Camp in Bosnia and Herzegowina,

Working on Land-Based Conflicts in Chiquitania/Bolivia.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation makes a contribution to the European-Islamic Cultural Dialogue with the allocation of research fellowships for scientists from countries with predominant islamic population.

The German Academic Exchange Service offers scholarships for foreign students of the four semester continuing Master-Programme Peace and Conflict Studies and presents special mentoring programmes for students from abroad at German universities.

It coordinates the regional special programmes

Conflict Prevention in the Region South Caucasus/Central Asia and Moldova,

Strategic Academic Partnership with the Iraq,

Reconstruction of the Afghan Universities,

Academic Reorganisation South Europe und

Assistance with Democracy in the Ukraine.

With the programme Dialogue on Innovative Higher Education Strategies (DIES) it supports higher education institutions in developing countries by organising the following activities in developing reform strategies:

Conferences for the development of universities,

Training Courses for resolution the issues of education management,

Partnerships for enhancement South-South-North higher education projects,

Projects for advancement regional higher education organisations in its implementation of a quality assurance system.

The German Development Service supports local civil organisations and municipal structures by providing specialist advice, if required by financial support. It takes part at the Civil Peace Service and sends peace experts which get involved with civil conflict resolution and peace promotion. Currently it works in 47 partner countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and is in charge of different projects.

In West and Central Africa for example:

Participation of travelling stock breeders in local decision processes in Niger.

In Eastern and Southern Africa for example:

Construction of local competences in Civil Conflict Resolution in Ethiopia,

Consultation and stabilisation of the department peace promotion in Sudan,

Peace museum as contribution to the process of coming to terms with the past in Rwanda,

Furtherance of peacefully cohabiting in Teso-Kramoja/Uganda.

In Asia for example:

Support of survivors of the Khmer Rouge regime in contact with traumas in Cambodia,

Strengthening of the national human rights commission in Nepal,

Strengthening of the role of the woman in the civil conflict resolution on the Philippines.

In the Middle East and Central Asia for example:

Strengthening of local peace capabilities by theatrical work in Afghanistan,

Construction of an Israeli Palestinian German dialogue platform in the Palestinian Territories.

In Latin America and the Caribbean for example:

Analysis, monitoring and transformation of social conflicts in Bolivia,

Strengthening of indigener organisations by the non-violent resolution of environmental conflicts and resource conflicts in Ecuador,

Support of farmer's organisations by the resolution of land conflicts in Guatemala,

Support by the compilation of a national victim's register in Peru.

The German Organisation for Technical Cooperation promotes decentralised public and private structures and assists the population in securing a livelihood. During and after conflicts, it confirms reconciliation processes and supports demobilisation and the reintegration of soldiers. Increasing safety for the population and preventing violence are significant elements of its work.

In the region Asia and Pacific the German Organisation for Technical Cooperation is activ in several countries, there, for example, it supervises the following projects:

Reconstruction and Development of Population Administration in Nanggroe Aceh/Indonesia,

Small Arms and Light Weapons Control and Improved Ammunition and Explosives Storage in Cambodia,

Reintegration and Reconstruction in Rukum and Rolpa/Nepal,

Supporting Peace Development in Mindanao on the Philippines,

Education for Social Cohesion in Sri Lanka,

Supporting Alternative Concepts for Conflict Resolution in Timor-Leste,

Poverty Alleviation in the Rural Provinces Tra Vinh and Ha Tinh/Viet Nam.

In the region Maghreb and Middle East the German Organisation for Technical Cooperation is activ in several countries, there, for example, it supervises the following projects:

Participatory Development Programme in Urban Areas in Egypt,

Advisory Services on Crisis Prevention and Conflict Transformation in Yemen,

Establishing a Technical Support Unit for Integrated Border Management in Lebanon,

Programme of Support for Civil Society at Local Level in the Palestinian Territories.

In the region Sub-Saharan Africa the German Organisation for Technical Cooperation is activ in several countries, there, for example, it supervises the following projects:

Support to the African Union Peace and Security Agenda in Ethiopia,

Strengthening of Human Rights and Reproductive Health in Burkina Faso,

Crisis Prevention and Peace Keeping in the South-West of Côte d’Ivoire, 

Local Governance and Poverty Reduction Support Programme in Ghana,

Repatriation and Reintegration of Refugees and Internally Displaced Person in West Africa,

Forum for Dialogue and Peace in Malawi,

Poverty Reduction and Crisis Prevention through the Promotion of Good Governance in Rwanda,

Programme to Promote Economic and Social Development and Peace in Casamance/Senegal,

Governance Programme South Sudan.

In the region Europe, Caucasus and Central Asie the German Organisation for Technical Cooperation is activ in several countries, there, for example, it supervises the following projects:

Promoting the Rule of Law in Afghanistan,

Strengthening Civil Society and Empowerment of Local Democratic Structures in Albania,

Promotion of Municipal Democracy in the South Caucasus,

Pomotion of Legal Reforms and Justice Reforms in the Countries of Central Asia,

Support for Reforms to Reduce Discrimination and Vulnerability of Women in Punjab/Pakistan.

In the region Latin America and Caribbean the German Organisation for Technical Cooperation is activ in several countries, there, for example, it supervises the following projects:

Decentralised Governance and Poverty Reduction Support in Bolivia,

Promotion of Youth and Prevention of Violence in El Salvador,

Promotion of Justice and Security Policies at the Local Level in Guatemala,

Advising the Colombian National Reparation and Reconciliation Commission in Kolumbien,

Strengthening of Indigenous Organisations in Latin America in Nicaragua.

Good Governance and Inclusion in Peru.

With its Culture and Development initiative, the Goethe Institute employs specific consulting and training programmes to promote institutions and stakeholders from culture, the media and society, in particular in countries involved in development cooperation. The programmes aim to provide professional qualifications, to advise and support the formation of regional networks and create cultural and social platforms.

In Afghanistan it organises a theatre festival taking place every year that makes a contribution to the constitution of the civil society and conflict prevention with artistic handling and presenting current society-critical subjects.

The InWEnt - Capacity Building International - communicates interdisciplinary management techniques and intercultural know-how in developing and transition countries. With its programmes it makes an active contribution to peacebuilding and crisis prevention.

With the course Peace Education in Central America and Colombia people who educate teachers, managers from ministries of education, and members of non-governmental organisations are trained to teach peace and educate others to do the same in putting their newly acquired knowledge of conflict transformation, human rights or gender into practice.

The Development Diplomacy Programme imparts executives from partner governments in sub-Saharan Africa courses knowledge in the fields of development cooperation, economic cooperation, international and regional crisis prevention, and climate protection. Besides the participants acquire negotiating techniques and communication skills which it enables to represent the interests of their country on equal footing in international discourse.