Creating Gateways to Stability and Growth Violence now affects 60 countries and is more widespread than at any point in the post-World War II period. Across many societies, local leaders, civil society groups, researchers, educators, journalists, and private sector actors are already building community strengths that foster peace. Yet the cumulative effect of these efforts has not been decisive enough. In many countries, local peacebuilding remains fragmented and is not suffi

Peace is often seen as a political or social goal, but it is also a vital economic asset. For businesses operating in fragile or conflict-affected regions, investing in peacebuilding is not just a moral choice—it is a strategic necessity. This blog explores how peacebuilding can protect supply chains, open new markets, meet investor expectations, and enhance corporate reputation. Drawing on evidence from global case studies, it highlights practical ways companies and policyma

In early 1966, I had just completed a two month tour of USAID projects in Nigeria to learn about the portfolio I was to manage from the Washington side. I reported to the State Department that I believed Nigeria would have a large civil war. Our field posts disagreed..until two weeks before the Biafra war broke out, 18 months later. Between 800,000 and 3 million died, most from starvation. As I pursued a career of social entrepreneurship in USAID, NGOs, and as senior advi

Peace is losing We expected a peace dividend after the Cold War. Instead, conflict has grown. The Institute for Economics and Peace’s (IEP) Global Peace Index 2025 flags two distressing trends. First, there are 59 active state-based conflicts, the most since World War II. Among the ongoing conflicts, the most notable is the Russia–Ukraine war, which continues to threaten peace across Europe. Second, geopolitical tensions have risen since 2008, reflecting broader fragmentation