Peacebuilding

Peacebuilding encompasses a range of measures targeted to reduce the risk of lapsing or relapsing into conflict by strengthening national capacities at all levels for conflict management, to lay the foundation for sustainable peace and development.

Three strategic dilemmas confront the contemporary field of peacebuilding: a current lack of global leadership; the uncertain implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals; and the challenge to make the case for the effectiveness of peacebuilding as a mechanism of conflict prevention.

The peacebuilding cluster at the GCSP addresses these challenges through executive courses (including online courses and gaming), dialogue and policy activities. The cluster focuses specifically on two Sustainable Development Goals (16 and 17) through four key strategic priorities. First, it integrates innovative thinking, best practices and a comprehensive approach in its foundational courses, such as the Swiss Peacebuilding Course, Comprehensive Peacebuilding Course and the GCSP-European Security and Defence College Course on Recovery and Stabilisation Strategies.

Second, at the research and policy level, the cluster engages in developing a comprehensive approach by steering the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform (GPP), as a member of the Challenges Forum, and a regular participant to many peace-related policy dialogues. Third, the cluster focuses on soft skills by building leadership capacity for peace practitioners through its Senior Level Peacebuilding Course.

Finally, the cluster is exploring new technologies and methodologies for peacebuilding including Media and Arts for Peace and Results-Based Management courses both in class and online (in collaboration with the United States Institute for Peace).