The GIZ strategy for crisis prevention and conflict transformation consists of the following three main components:

• promotion of structural stability as the basis for sustainable development
• promotion of social groups and of local and regional institutions in order to enhance their crisis prevention and conflict transformation skills
• systematic consideration of aspects of crisis prevention and conflict transformation in traditional and tried and tested fields of International Cooperation.

These three elements are complementary and overlap at the level of activity areas and measures.

GIZ activity areas for crisis prevention and conflict transformation

Structural stability

• social and economic justice
• promoting political participation / democracy
• rule of law
• human rights
• government and administrative reforms
• decentralisation / advisory services to promote federalism
• promoting civil society
• media.

Strengthening capacities for conflict transformation among civil society groups and local and regional institutions

• transforming war alliances and promoting peace constituencies
• promoting local and regional institutions and mechanisms for conflict transformation
• public relations
• education and youth promotion
• trauma healing
• coming to terms with the past, reconciliation work
• training and professionalisation for conflict transformation (GIZ staff and partners)
• security sector reform.

General awareness-raising on conflict-related issues in TC measures

• no unintended effects conducive to destructive conflict
• systematic incorporation of crisis prevention and conflict transformation issues in traditional TC projects.

GIZ believes that development policy makes an active contribution to peace policy. Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001, GIZ has particularly been challenged to devise solid concepts and strategies to help prevent the globalisation of terror and violence, and to create long-term structures for peace.

In order to find development-policy responses to rising violence across the globe, further conceptual development is being undertaken in individual subject areas (such as the reform of the security sector, small arms control, business and conflict etc.).

The Crisis Prevention and Conflict Transformation Programme

The general principles for Development Cooperation must also be observed for a sustainable commitment in the field of peace building. Crisis prevention and conflict transformation can only be put into practice with a prospect of success if the relevant instruments are adapted.

The task of the Crisis Prevention and Conflict Transformation Programme is therefore to further develop the existing concepts and instruments, and to apply them on a pilot basis within the framework of International Cooperation.
The programme's financing organisation and main partner is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which is being supported and advised in the fields of crisis prevention, conflict transformation and peace building. To that end, the sector programme relies on close cooperation with colleagues both within GIZ and elsewhere in the development community. The programme is also engaged in an intensive exchange of ideas within the field of peace and conflict research.