United States Institute of Peace

The United States Institute of Peace promotes research, policy analysis, education, and
training on international peace and conﬂict resolution.

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is an independent institution,
established by Congress pursuant to title XVII of the Defense Authorization
Act of 1985, as amended (22 U.S.C. 4601–4611). USIP’s mission is to help
prevent and resolve violent conﬂicts, promote postconﬂict stability and
development, and increase peacebuilding capacity, tools, and intellectual capital
worldwide. The Institute achieves this by empowering others with knowledge,
skills, and resources, as well as by directly engaging in peacebuilding
throughout the world.

The Institute is governed by a bipartisan Board of Directors appointed
by the President and conﬁrmed by the Senate. The Board is comprised
of members from outside the Federal service, the Secretary of State, the
Secretary of Defense, and the President of the National Defense University.
The Board appoints the President of the Institute.

Programs and Activities

In carrying out its mission, USIP operates on the ground in conﬂict
zones, providing services that include mediating and facilitating
dialogue among parties in conﬂict; building conﬂict management skills
and capacity; indentifying and disseminating best practices in conﬂict
management; promoting the rule of law; reforming and strengthening
education systems; strengthening civil society and statebuilding; and
educating the public through ﬁlm, radio, the Internet, special events, and
other outreach activities.

The Institute conducts and sponsors relevant research on causes of and solutions to violent conﬂict. Drawing on this intellectual capital, USIP identiﬁes promising models and innovative approaches and practices. USIP shares these tools with others through its publications, the Internet, and training programs. Tools developed by USIP include book series on international mediation and cultural negotiating behavior, resources on religious peacemaking, a toolkit for promoting the rule of law in fragile states, guidelines for civilian and military interactions in hostile environments, and textbooks on international conﬂict management. USIP works in partnership with nongovernmental organizations, higher and secondary educational institutions, and international organizations to promote collaborative problemsolving through conferences, standing working groups, Track II diplomacy, and special events. The Institute offers training on conﬂict management, including mediation and negotiating skills, for government and military personnel, civil society leaders, and staff of nongovernmental and international organizations.

As part of its efforts to strengthen and professionalize the ﬁeld of international
conﬂict management, the Institute shares the resources and tools it has developed
with the larger conﬂict management community. In conﬂict zones, USIP works
in partnership with local organizations to build their capacity and promote
sustainability. The Institute also extends its reach by investing in nonproﬁt
organizations in the United States and overseas.

Strategic Centers

The Institute includes strategic centers focused on preventing violent conﬂicts before they occur, mediating and resolving conﬂicts when they do occur, and promoting postconﬂict stability once the ﬁghting ends. The efforts of these cross-disciplinary centers focus on education, training, grantmaking, fellowships, scholarships,
and innovation in pe acebuilding.