New project: Germany strengthens integrated peace commitment!

New project: Germany strengthens integrated peace commitment!

On April 10, 2025, a new project entitled “Impact Hub: Integrated effectiveness of integrated peace engagement” was presented. This project will be funded by the Federal Foreign Office and the Robert Bosch Foundation with 2.1 million euros until the end of 2026. The European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) leads the consortium, which also includes the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH) and the Cluster of Excellence SCRIPTS at the Free University of Berlin.

The main goal of the project is to improve German foreign policy in the area of ​​peace, especially under the currently changing global conditions. The research will take place in four specific regions - the Western Balkans, West Africa, Ukraine and the Middle East. The focus is on the prerequisites for sustainable action and the interaction of the instruments of integrated peace engagement.

Instruments and strategies

The integrated peace commitment, which plays a central role in German foreign and security policy, combines civil, military and police means. The aim is to integrate crisis prevention, stabilization and peacebuilding as fundamental pillars of this policy. Crisis prevention aims to prevent or defuse violent conflicts at an early stage. Stabilization is intended to promote non-violent conflict resolution, while peacebuilding is intended to prevent relapses into violence. These measures are integrated into a comprehensive political and diplomatic strategy that aims for short-term success.

Specific instruments used for integrated peace engagement include, among others:

• Friedensmediation
• Bekämpfung extremistischer Gewalt
• Bekämpfung transnationaler organisierter Kriminalität
• Sicherheitssektorreform
• Entwaffnung, Demobilisierung und Reintegration
• Stärkung legitimer staatlicher Gewalt
• Verbesserung der Lebensbedingungen
• Förderung von Demokratie und Rechtsstaatlichkeit

Practical applications and challenges

A concrete example of the application of Germany's peace commitment is the reconstruction of the Nigerian village of Ngarannam, which was attacked by Boko Haram in 2015. Germany supported not only local authorities, but also the United Nations in rebuilding and improving the security situation. The return of the displaced villagers to Ngarannam, which has been possible again since the end of 2022, was supported by economic aid.

The current project aims not only to identify impact problems, but also to develop practical options for optimizing impact. Conflicts of objectives between foreign and security policy interests as well as the interlinking of the Federal Government's stability instruments are also considered. Experts from the SCRIPTS cluster will analyze the conditions for democratic structures and resilient societies in conflict areas.

Given the challenges posed by climate change and developments in cyberspace, international and multilateral cooperation is essential. This helps to resolve complex transnational conflicts and promote Germany's security. Germany is increasingly relying on the support of international organizations such as the United Nations, particularly with regard to their peace work and contributions to the Peacebuilding Fund.

Overall, the project aims for a learning and adaptive approach by the federal government, while experts recommend closer scientific support for foreign policy. This could not only improve the efficiency of German foreign policy, but also its long-term stability and relevance at the international level.