Giving Compass' Take:

• A study from The Social Change Initiative, Funding in Conflict-Affected Environments: Notes for Grantmakers, identifies strategies for donors to invest in and scale up peacebuilding efforts. 

• How can grantmakers leverage global partnerships to advance peacebuilding initiatives? Are any philanthropists doing this successfully right now? 

• Read more about the case for funding peacebuilding. 

A study released last year by The Social Change Initiative, Funding in Conflict-Affected Environments: Notes for Grantmakers, illuminates how independent philanthropy can tip the scales in support of peacebuilding. The big money may come from governments and multi-lateral agencies, but philanthropy can be nimble and responsive.

Peacebuilding can be both local, standing in solidarity with a threatened human rights defender by sharing information and opening up broader stakeholder connections, or global, working to mitigate armaments and re-frame international understanding. However, this study from 2017 emphasizes the potential of local impact.

In summary, here are a few key takeaways for funders from this research:

  • Invest time in understanding the complexities of violently divided societies and the challenges and opportunities for peacebuilding and conflict transformation.
  • Listen to local voices, and particularly those individuals and communities most impacted by the violence.
    Be prepared to invest in programmes of action across all phases of the conflict cycle, not just during the post-conflict stage.
  • Ensure that internal structures allow grantmaking that is timely and flexible.
  • Think through the added value aspects that an independent funder can bring – connections, voice, developmental support, and information.

In addition, it is important to recognize the element of risk-taking and to encourage board members to embrace it as a key element of independent philanthropy.

Read the full article about funding peacebuilding by Avila Kilmurray article at GrantCraft by Candid.