Is it possible to contribute to the development of a country where there is no state? How can we work on a long-term basis in a country affected by conflict? What difficulties do development organizations face? A podium discussion organized in partnership with the Geneva Federation for Cooperation will look at these issues on July 5 in Lausanne. With the participation of Sidonia Gabriel, KOFF director.

To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the Caux Palace opens its doors for a full day during the conference season. Take advantage of this opportunity to get a real insight into international conferences and learn more about the Conference Center.

How can technology, art, and research be used to build peace? This is the question that will be asked at the “Build Peace 2016” conference, which takes place in Zurich on September 9-11.

Peace Brigades International (PBI) and Peace Watch Switzerland (PWS) are organizing an information session in Berne enabling participants to learn more about opportunities to support human rights in their projects abroad and in Switzerland. This provides a chance to find out more about the work done by volunteers on the ground, the training process and the workings of the organizations. Another information session will take place on October 1 in Zurich.

Even in the most hostile and challenging environments there are many peace initiatives taking place that don’t receive the attention they deserve. This year’s Geneva Peace Talks “Peace Happens” will look to bring these initiatives and the people behind them to light. This public event, which takes place as part of the International Day of Peace, is organized by the United Nations Office in Geneva, Interpeace, and the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform.

The introductory module of swisspeace’s CAS in civilian peacebuilding Essentials 2016/2017 will take place from September 23-24, 2016. Designed for practitioners with an academic background, this CAS consisting of 21 days spread over one year provides a holistic understanding of civilian peacebuilding, reflects critically on peacebuilding practices and draws on current insights from research.

The thematic block “Peacebuilding & Statebuilding” will take place on October 14-15, as part of swisspeace’s CAS in civilian peacebuilding Essential 2016/2017.

Despite the widespread emergence of theories of change in strategy and project documents, they are rarely used to their full potential. The swisspeace training on “Theories of Change in Fragile Contexts” focuses on how ‘good’ theories of change can be created that will help practitioners gain an in-depth understanding of their programs and their impacts. The training will take place from February 1-3, 2017.

The “National Dialogue & Peace Mediation” course offered by swisspeace and the Berghof Foundation provides insights in how to understand, design and support national dialogue processes, training in dialogue and mediation skills and reflection on lessons that can be drawn from previous cases. The course will take place from February 13-17, 2017.

The thematic block “Business & Peace” will take place on December 2-3, as part of swisspeace’s CAS in civilian peacebuilding Essentials 2016/2017.

The thematic block “Dealing with the Past” will take place on January 27-28, 2017, as part of swisspeace’s CAS in civilian peacebuilding Essentials 2016/2017.