PrintWhat You Don't Know about the United States Institute of Peace
Issue Areas
Experts
February 21, 2011
The Institute's work is not always visible because it seeks to protect the people it works with in conflict zones. The work is more important than the publicity, which is not always true in Washington, D.C. In case you've been wondering what, specifically, has USIP done with my money, consider its work in just a few of the regions you care about:
IRAQ:
During the Iraq war, USIP was called upon by the United States Army's 10th Mountain Division, to reconcile tribal differences in the "Triangle of Death" in Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad. Those efforts quelled the violence in the region and led to a spiral downwards in combat deaths of American military personnel. General Petraeus has written a letter of gratitude to USIP.
Learn more about USIP's work in Iraq
AFGHANISTAN:
In Afghanistan, USIP has supported the Tribal Liaison Organization (TLO) to develop provincial conflict resolution committees that would complement and strengthen the work of the Ministry of Justice. The committees established by the TLO have resolved local conflicts that, left unaddressed, would have provided openings for the Taliban to gain support.
Learn more about USIP's work in Afghanistan
IRAN:
USIP convened, under the editorial supervision of leading expert Robin Wright, a leading Iran Primer with contributions from 50 organizations on the current and future of Iran.
Learn more about USIP's work in Iran | Go to the Iran Primer website
PAKISTAN:
In Pakistan, the Institute has supported projects that have trained madrassa students for meaningful careers in journalism, mitigating the appeal of extremist movements among a population that represents a key target of such groups' recruitment campaigns. With regard to madrassas in Pakistan, USIP has prepared a textbook in Urdu based on Islamic principles on gender equality, tolerance, pluralism, and peace being used in many madrassas.
Learn more about USIP's work in Pakistan
THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT:
USIP has major on-the-ground efforts and a senior working group on the peace process that is highly valued by all the leading parties including the U.S. government.
Learn more about USIP's work in Israel | Learn more about USIP's work in the Palestinian Territories | Learn about The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Internal Challenges on the Road to Peace event series
AFRICA
SUDAN:
In the Sudan, USIP has been working for years so that if a referendum could arise, it would be carried out, peacefully, and we have been working to give the U.S. administration advice and guidance on Sudan.
Learn more about USIP's work in Sudan
NIGER DELTA:
In the Niger Delta, USIP ameliorated conflict through training community leaders in conflict resolution, helping integrate former rebels back into their home communities, and preparing proposals to resolve some of the key issues that divide the Nigerian government and the Niger Delta rebels.
Learn more about USIP's work in Nigeria
SOUTH AFRICA:
In South Africa, we helped shape the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and we have helped with similar commissions throughout the world.
See all of USIP's work on Truth Commissions
WESTERN HEMISPHERE
HAITI:
USIP works on children and rule of law, training police, and convening one of the most influential Haiti Working Groups.
Learn more about USIP's work in Haiti
COLOMBIA:
In Colombia, USIP grantees are working to consolidate peace in recently stabilized areas of the country and to prevent violence in regions still plagued by conflict. The Institute recently funded a project in Antioquia that facilitated ex-combatants reentry into society, and is currently funding an initiative in Northern Colombia to strengthen a network of citizens organizations that will promote dialogue on the national reconciliation process. Along Colombia's Pacific Coast, where ethnic rivalries have allowed illegal armed groups to gain control of territory, USIP is funding a training project to build community-level cooperation and conflict resolution skills. Another USIP-supported training project is preventing youth recruitment to illegal armed groups by holding workshops on conflict resolution and human rights in the shantytowns of Bogota.
Learn more about USIP's work in Colombia
WORKING ON THE GROUND and THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX:
And yes, the Institute does "think" - often thinking outside the box. It convened the Iraq Study Group, which was Congressionally-funded and helped analyze the options and alternatives for America at a time of great peril. It put together a Genocide Prevention Task Force led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Defense Secretary William Cohen which made recommendations that led to the designation of a point person at the White House to work on stopping genocides before they unfold. A major achievement. USIP led the effort to evaluate the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review so that America's national security agenda for the next 20 years would be carefully studied by an independent body. It contributed most recently to the QDDR-- the State Department's review of its responsibilities and structure in this new world of international conflict resolution and crisis management.
SEEDING A FIELD:
USIP is creating and building the field of international conflict management. Just as medicine and disease prevention need research and practitioners, so does the field of peacebuilding need work. As a national security asset, we do a lot with a little for which a grateful nation has shown its appreciation.
More
- USIP President Richard Solomon writes in Politico about the U.S. Institute of Peace's mission to promote peace at a time of war.
- USIP Chairman of the Board J. Robinson West writes in The Wall Street Journal: "We are Actively Engaged in Promoting Peace at USIP."
- Read the News Release: "United States Institute of Peace Forges Ahead with Congressional Mission to Prevent and Manage International Conflict"
- Download and read expressions of support for USIP from the senior most leaders of our country, (PDF/864 KB)
- Download and read praise for USIP, (PDF/612 KB)