Countries & Continents

USIP is working to strengthen Afghan society in several ways. The Rule of Law team has worked with government officials and international organizations to develop and implement Afghanistan's constitution, and continues to work to bridge gaps between Afghanistan's formal and tribal justice system. Grants from USIP are helping to seed a new generation of nongovernmental and civil society organizations. And staff are training a cadre of Afghan conflict managers and facilitators to help communities over the long term.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo needs help to build governmental capacity, strong governmental institutions, human rights and womens' rights in particular, in order for any reconciliation and rebuilding to take hold after the violence stops.

For the past 17 years Somalia has been without an effective central government and most of the country has been in turmoil. Several peace conferences have been held and interim governments have been named, but none has gained legitimacy. Widespread violence, hunger and displacement plague the Somali population. Based on an agreement mediated by the UN in 2008 a more inclusive parliament and executive have been selected, but an insurgency persists & the political outlook is far from clear.