Business & Peace

Since the early 1990s there is an increasing awareness about the economic dimensions of violent conflicts and the inter-linkages between private sector activities, human rights violations, violent conflict and peace. Business & Peace contributes to an improved understanding of the relationships between business actors' activities, conflict prevention and transformation through problem-oriented and policy relevant research.
Our team offers consultancy services for government agencies, private businesses as well as non-governmental organizations to improve the design, implementation and evaluation of their business-related activities.

News

17 February 2012
B&P Program Officer Andrea Iff participated in a
Workshop in Pokhara, Nepal, from 17-24 February
to discuss the findings of the research project "private actors in peace promotion" with the Nepali research partners and to discuss an institutionalized research relationship for the coming years.

6 February 2012
The two B&P team members Andrea Iff and Can Deniz presented two papers at the
Swiss Political Science Association's Annual Convention
on 2-3 February 2012 in Lucerne. One on Afghanistan ("How value-chains between Swiss TNCs and local Afghan business actors can support a transformation of current economic structures") and the other one on South Sudan ("Role of Private Consulting Companies in State Building").

9 January 2012
Dr. Andrea Iff will hold a block course on
Business actors in peace processes: supporter or spoiler?
at the University of Basel, starting 5 March 2012. More Information

22 December 2011
swisspeace Business & Peace Program Officer Andrea Iff and Project Researcher Can Deniz will present preliminary research results on potential contributions of the private sector in South Sudan and Afghanistan, at the
Annual Congress of the Swiss Political Science Association
It will be hosted by the University of Lucerne, February, 2-3, 2012. More

20 December 2011
swisspeace Business & Peace Program Officer Andrea Iff, was in Juba, South Sudan to conduct
Interviews with representatives from private consulting companies.
The aim was to find out about the difference of aid and development work implemented for profit in contrary to not for profit actors or NGOs. The research was executed within the broader framework of a research project called 'Private actors in peace promotion' within the NCCR North South. The results of the research project will be discussed and published throughout 2012.

12 October 2011
The Business and Peace team of swisspeace is organizing a panel on the
Relevance of the economy in transformations from war to peace in South Asia
at the 22nd European Conference on South Asian Studies (ECSAS) in Lisbon from 25-28 July 2012. Call for Papers