Peace and Security

Peacebuilding programs are designed to prevent and respond to violent conflict.

Even before the war in Ukraine, violent conflict was at its highest point since WWII and driving a forced displacement crisis.

Worsening and protracted conflicts are inflicting a massive human toll. In addition to conflict deaths, lack of stability drives displacement, increases disease and malnutrition, contributes to early child marriage and labor, and destroys livelihoods.

Fragility also imposes a significant global economic cost. The World Bank estimates that income levels in nearly half of the lower-income economies affected by fragility and conflict will remain below pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Conflict prevention and peacebuilding programs are specifically designed to prevent and respond to violent conflict and mitigate these impacts.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, the State Department, the United Nations, and institutions such as the U.S. Institute of Peace play a pivotal role in peacebuilding and conflict prevention programming. Broadly, these organizations seek to strengthen the capacity of international and local actors to address and manage conflict through a variety of approaches, including peacekeeping operations; instability monitoring and analysis; targeted prevention and stabilization assistance; and reconciliation programs. The U.S. takes a holistic approach to crises, working under strategies mandated by the Global Fragility Act to ensure that resources across the government are effectively leveraged to prevent conflict.

Preventing and addressing conflict directly serves U.S. economic and national security interests. Currently, conflict drives 80% of global humanitarian needs, including food insecurity. Conflict prevention programs are significantly less expensive than U.S. military interventions. When intervention is needed, U.N. peacekeeping is more cost-effective than deploying a comparable U.S. force, operating at approximately one-eighth the cost.

To encourage a peaceful world, counter the rise of authoritarianism and illiberalism, and uphold the President’s commitment to be “a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security,” America must invest in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.