Peace and conflict transformation

Sustainable development can succeed only where there is peace. GIZ actively promotes conflict resolution and reconciliation.

Two thirds of German development cooperation partner countries are affected by crises, conflict or war. 
Conflicts are the result of economic, social and political factors. The causes are often interlinked. Crises and violent conflicts can undo the results of many years of development within a short period of time.. This has negative physical and psychological effects, deprives people of their livelihoods and weakens the state and society.

GIZ’s objective is to tackle the causes of conflict and to facilitate peaceful and inclusive coexistence. Working with partner governments and institutions, GIZ develops strategies for preventing crises and violence. GIZ follows the principle of multi-partiality and the "Do No Harm" approach.  Human rights and equal opportunities are the foundations of GIZs work.  

GIZ works in the following areas:

Overcoming the structural causes of conflict

GIZ supports partners in recognising the causes of conflicts and dealing with them in a non-violent way.  All advisory services are tailored to the specific local conditions. The objective is to establish the conditions that make peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development possible. GIZ works to build both state and civil society capacities to support non-violent conflict resolution. Through peace education, GIZ promotes a non-violent future: young people in schools, universities and youth institutions learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Building trust

War and violence shake trust in the state and within society. Recreating viable relations between society and the state after the end of violence and recreating social cohesion is a major challenge. 

GIZ promotes constructive dialogue between the state and civil society and between the parties involved in conflict. It supports local organisations that, for example, use mediation for non-violent conflict transformation.. These organisations should be strengthened at local levels of political and social cohesion. Reconciliation and justice can only survive in the long term if efforts are made to examine and reappraise the past. GIZ supports initiatives and projects that tackle previous experiences of violence and draw lessons for the future.