Transatlantic Dialogue for Peace

As nearly a quarter of the world’s population lives in conflict-affected areas, the need to invest in peacebuilding is more apparent than ever. It is essential to focus on creating sustainable peace not only through increased funding but also by investing more significantly in local actors. Top-down approaches to peacebuilding, often driven by international actors and institutions, must be locally led and owned, drawing on the expertise of the communities directly affected by conflict.

The Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme, in partnership with the New York office of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, hosted an expert discussion on this critical question: How can local actors build sustainable peace?"

Our panel featured leading experts, including award-winning author, peacebuilder, and Columbia University scholar Séverine Autessere, and Olu Arowobusoye, Chief of the Support Branch of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission. Together, they explored ways to better support local actors and foster enduring peace.

Key points highlighted during the discussion included:

• Integrating local knowledge: Exploring how local tools, mechanisms, and expertise can be better incorporated to design more effective peacebuilding strategies.  
• Transitional approaches: Discussing how to bridge top-down and bottom-up strategies to foster greater collaboration and strengthen peacebuilding efforts.
• Challenges for grassroots peacebuilders: Understanding the obstacles faced by those working on the ground to promote peace—such as pushback from authorities—and the need to create an enabling environment for their efforts.  

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation Stiftung (KAS) is a German political foundation closely associated with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). With more than 100 offices worldwide, KAS is dedicated to promoting democracy, the rule of law, and freedom.  

Its New York office, established in 2016, aims to strengthen multilateralism and the rules-based international order. It serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among United Nations system representatives, experts and partners from its global network, and KAS offices worldwide. The office focuses on issues related to international peace and security, sustainable development, the rule of law, and global governance.