Countries & Continents

USIP Countries & Continents

USIP's Priority Countries and Regions

With over 100 active conflicts around the world, USIP must use its financial and staff resources wisely. Each year, USIP's staff and Board of Directors determine in which countries the Institute's work can have the greatest impact. We identify conflicts where our expertise can help, and gauge whether our work would fill a need not being addressed by others. This year, USIP is working on 20 countries and areas of the world, - to prevent conflict in six, resolve conflict in nine and promote reconciliation and stability in another six.

	Afghanistan USIP has been working to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan since 2002 through programs designed to improve understanding of peaceful dispute resolution, advance peace education in schools and communities, enhance dialogue between leading Afghans and the international community, and promote the rule of law. USIP established an office in Kabul in 2008. This on the ground presence has greatly increased USIP's contact with and understanding of events, programs, and attitudes in Afghanistan, and has strengthened its capacity to execute innovative and effective programs in the country.
	Colombia The United States Institute of Peace seeks to support a non-violent transformation of the conflict in Colombia. In the absence of national peace processes, the USIP is supporting initiatives to help create an environment propitious for a political, negotiated solution.
	Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo needs help to build governmental capacity, strong governmental institutions, human rights and womens' rights in particular, in order for any reconciliation and rebuilding to take hold after the violence stops.
	Egypt USIP’s goal in Egypt, and in the broader Arab world where similar struggles are now unfolding, is to assist contending groups define practical legal, institutional and constitutional solutions that will promote peaceful democratic change and conflict resolution.
	Haiti USIP works to promote reconciliation and reconstruction in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, through on-the-ground conflict resolution training in at-risk communities, nationwide legal reform, and regular public forums in Washington, DC for policymakers.
	Iran USIP conducts ongoing research and policy analysis on major developments in Iran through the Iran Study Group and the Iran Primer. USIP experts provide regular briefings for Congressional staffers and officials at the Department of State.
	Iraq The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has played a key role in promoting peaceful governance through collaborative civic engagement in Iraq since 2003. USIP’s core mission is to strengthen local capacities to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts peacefully by assisting Iraqis to develop the tools and institutions necessary to peacefully resolve disputes. We work across the community, provincial and national levels, and above all seek to provide Iraqis with the tools to act as citizens and peace builders. Our Iraqi partners in government and civil society have facilitated dialogue with multiple stakeholders across the country that address the roots of the conflict and propose concrete solutions.
	Israel and the Palestinian Territories Through a focus on regional context and internal dynamics, USIP’s work on Israel seeks to comprehensively address the complexities of its conflict with the Palestinians and the broader Arab world through policy relevant analysis, public outreach and innovative programming with partners in the region, all aimed at building support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
	Korean Peninsula Through high-level Track 1.5 dialogue – that brings together current and former officials and policy experts – and critical analysis, the Institute is helping address strategic challenges in Northeast Asia.
	Lebanon USIP's goal in Lebanon is to develop proposals, ideas and policy recommendations that will prevent conflict within Lebanon and across its borders. These programs and additional work increase the policy community's knowledge about Lebanon and encourage communication and collaboration among experts in and outside of Lebanon.
	Nigeria Nigeria faces a series of critical challenges. Elections are looming for the spring of 2011 and this always generates severe tensions. Pressure will be on the electoral commission and other officials to conduct more credible elections than most previous elections. While violence in the Niger Delta subsided temporarily after an amnesty was declared for rebels in 2009, kidnapping and sabotage of oil installations are on the rise again. The amnesty process suffered several serious shortcomings. Violent conflict between Christians and Muslims in northern Nigeria, and particularly in Plateau State and Bauchi, seems to allude containment.
	Pakistan USIP has actively worked to promote peace and stability in Pakistan over the past several years. USIP's projects in Pakistan fall into three interrelated areas: improving mutual understanding between the U.S. and Pakistan; strengthening capacity to mitigate conflict; and promoting peacebuilding through education and civil society initiatives.
	The Two Sudans On July 9th, 2011 the Republic of South Sudan declared independence, resulting in the most significant redrawing of the map of Africa since decolonization. Both new Sudans face a series of internal and external challenges to peace. The U.S. Institute of Peace is engaging on many of these key issues in an effort to help build a more peaceful, stable and secure Sudan and South Sudan.

All Countries & Regions »