Overview

The Peace & Justice Innovations Program aims to reflect on the practices of international peacebuilding, and to strengthen civil society organisations working in the field by jointly developing innovative approaches and improved methodologies. It is closely related to our think tank, the JustPeace Lab.

The program is based on critical analyses of relevant projects of recent decades and integrates findings from the latest research. In addition, it contributes to a paradigm shift towards a human-centred approach and more equitable North-South relations.

The Peace & Justice Innovations Program is planned for a multi-year period. It started in March 2024 with the GFO-funded project that is described below.

projects

Project: International Peacekeeping Practitioners

Countries: Global

Duration: 01 March 2024 – 30 Sept. 2025 (19 months)

Donor: German Foreign Office (GFO)

Amount: 788,838.35 Euros

Head of Project: Dr Tilmann J. Röder

Program & Research Coordinator: Dr Sarah Biecker

Program Researcher: Robert Poll (LL.M.)

Program Assistant: Lea Hensch

Supervising Director: Dr Julie Trappe

The first project of the Peace & Justice Innovations Program focuses on rule of law and transitional justice, while also fostering connections with complementary fields such as peace mediation and security sector reforms (SSR).

In the early project phase, the project team will invite civil society organisations (CSOs) from the Global South to form a network, which constitutes the nucleus of the CSO Alliance.

Individual experts from academia and practice will also be invited to collaborate on the project. In addition, JustPeace will provide them with possibilities of exchange in the Expert Forum.

Together with experts, the project team will support the CSOs in methodological aspects of their work. In addition, the partners will analyse hurdles that the CSOs are facing in their efforts to strengthen peace and justice. From mid-2024 onwards, JustPeace will allocate funds to eight CSOs for small-scale, innovative pilot activities, offering ongoing support throughout their implementation.

Moreover, JustPeace will develop concepts for a Civil Society-Based Monitoring (CSBM). This system aims to detect shifts in contextual dynamics early on, enhancing the capacity of local civil societies to respond proactively particularly in situations where they might be overwhelmed by escalations.

To enable swift and direct responses to such critical developments, JustPeace will form a Rapid Response Unit (RRU). Dedicated funds are allocated to help partner CSOs, allowing for timely interventions in moments of change, be they crises or opportunities.

Finally, the project facilitates a safe exchange format for South-South exchange initiated by the CSOs themselves. These discussions may cover a broad spectrum of topics ranging from political issues to strategic and operational considerations.