US Institute of Peace

Description

Founded by Congress, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is an independent, nonpartisan institution charged with increasing the nation’s capacity to prevent, mitigate, and help resolve international conflict without violence. For over 30 years, USIP has worked to avoid and resolve global conflict by training and supporting local communities in their peacebuilding efforts.

What does it buy?

USIP supports specialized trainers, mediators, and researchers who work in conflict zones and Washington, D.C., by providing resources, education, and analysis on conflict prevention and resolution.

Why is it important?

• USIP plays a unique national security role, acting as a catalyst for the broader U.S. government effort to prevent violent conflict and extremism.
• USIP is cost-effective in preventing conflict and maintaining peace. The American investment builds security through preventing violence—saving both lives and money.
• USIP hosts high-level experts to tackle difficult national security priorities, including the congressionally directed Task Force on Extremism in Fragile States whose recommendations were a part of the Global Fragility Act.
• In 2007, in Mahmoudiya, Iraq, USIP conducted a mediation of tribal warfare. At just $1.5 million, this effort helped relieve over 2,800 U.S. soldiers of duty and saved military costs of more than $150 million per month. Mahmoudiya’s peace holds a decade later.

Why should Americans care?

• USIP sends specialized teams of mediators and trainers to some of the most fragile and dangerous places in the world to equip local civil society organizations and communities with the skills necessary to prevent or resolve their violent conflicts before they threaten U.S. national security interests.
• USIP’s cost-effective approach serves as a force multiplier for the U.S. by helping preserve U.S. investments in hard-won military gains and through our nation’s economic support in post-conflict environments.

What more could be done?

• Greater U.S. investment would allow USIP to expand work into other conflict-affected areas and increase efforts to address threats from China, North Korea, and Russia, in addition to work on humanitarian crises, forced migrations, and violent extremism.
• More funding would broaden USIP’s work on upstream conflict prevention and address grievances and the causes of fragility earlier.
• As more contexts transition out of full-scale conflict, additional resources will be needed to stabilize more areas and provide USIP’s unique capabilities alongside the military and diplomats.