Sustainable Economies
The Institute focuses on various dimensions of peacebuilding and conflict management, including the causal relationship between economic activity and the prospects for enduring peace.
Research suggests that societies with effective economic policies, vibrant economic activity and resilient economic actors are more likely to promote national, regional and global peace and prosperity. Sound economies are fundamental to enhancing human security and reducing conflict.
The Sustainable Economies Center of Innovation, headed by Raymond Gilpin, seeks to develop practical approaches to integrate economic dimensions in effective strategies to manage conflict and promote peace, while providing guidance for a broad range of practitioners. The Center's work builds on sound practice by bilateral agencies, multilateral institutions, non-governmental organizations and private sector firms working in conflict-affected areas; and is predicated on the premise that economic activities and actors can be transformative building blocks for sustainable peace.
Recent Center Highlights
USIP Supports Peace
Through Commerce
November 13-15, 2008 | Conference
USIP’s Center for
Sustainable Economies supported the 2008 Peace Through Commerce
conference convened by George Washington University’s
Institute for Corporate Responsibility November 13-15. The event
aimed to illuminate the contribution that commerce, trade, and
economic development make toward building sustainable peace.
Center director Raymond
Gilpin stated, “viable commerce could enhance
prospects for lasting peace by generating employment, improving
livelihoods and strengthening inter-communal
relationships.”
Learn more
The U.S. Treasury Approach to State-Building Assistance
October 29, 2008 | Public Event
A great deal has been written in recent years about both the shortcomings of and need to reform the way the United States conducts foreign assistance, particularly in the context of post-conflict state-building. In these discussions, most attention has understandably been devoted to the agencies most closely associated with the "three Ds" of defense, diplomacy, and development: the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. As observers have noted, however, other U.S. government agencies also play significant roles — notably including the U.S. Treasury Department.
Listen to the audio
Financial Turmoil and Fragile States
October 27, 2008 | Public Event
While much is known about the impact and ramifications of global financial turmoil in industrialized and industrializing economies, relatively little is known about the implications in the world's fragile and conflict-affected countries. More specifically: How does this crisis affect conflict-affected states over the immediate and longer terms? Would resource-rich economies be less affected? Are recent positive strides in economic performance in jeopardy? Who are the likely winners and losers? What does this mean for trade and aid? What policy options and strategies should governments and stakeholders be considering?
Mining, Conflict and Peace in the DRC
October 17, 2008 | Public Event
Mining, the mainstay of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is also at the heart of pervasive economic, political and social instability. Understanding the role of corporate actors in the mining sector sheds light on multifaceted conflict dynamics and provides insights into possible entry points for effective intervention.
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
Recognizing the importance of robust and equitable private sector activity, the Center is assessing the extent to which formal and informal economic activity could promote peace in resource-rich northeastern and southern provinces.
- Nigeria
Working with local non-governmental organizations, the Center is developing conflict-sensitive strategies to improve resource management in Nigeria's oil industry. These efforts aim to reduce tensions between communities and the oil companies and lay the foundation for poverty reduction and socio-economic development.
- Building Capacity for Economic Management in Conflict-Affected Regions
This project builds on previous research on the efficacy and sustainability of the Treasury Advisors program, administered by the U.S. Treasury Department, by seeking to analyze and collate sound practices worldwide. The main objective is to provide practitioners with a concise publication that would outline a broad framework for enhancing capacity in the area of economic management.
- Making and Keeping Peace in Resource-Rich Regions
Recognizing the centrality of effective and equitable resource management in fragile regions, this project aims to codify lessons learned in a USIP publication and foster dialogue and community-level empowerment in the mineral-rich Katanga province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Peace Through Tourism Initiative
Since November 2007, CSE has collaborated with a consortium of leading business schools in the U.S. in the development of the “peace through commerce” initiative, which highlights how profit-making enterprises could be conflict-sensitive. CSE activities will focus on the growing trend among responsible tourism businesses to support community and conservation projects in the host countries where they operate.
- Economies and Conflict Pilot Course
Drawing on USIP's twenty years of leadership in the field of conflict management, USIP is expanding its education and training programs to prepare practitioners to work effectively in conflict zones. This second pilot of the economics and conflict course This course second pilot of the economics and conflict course will introduce practitioners to the relationship between economic activity and conflict management as well as the importance of economic actors and considerations in triggering, perpetuating, and resolving violent conflict.
- Interactive Network for Economic Development Professionals
Working in/on Conflict Regions
This project will build on the extensive research conducted in FY ’08 to ascertain the need for a web-based network offering archival capabilities, networking potential and reach-back capacity for economic development professionals working in/or on conflict regional.
USIP specialists by topic
USIP specialists by region
