The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) is a member-led network of civil society

organisations (CSOs) active in the field of conflict prevention and peacebuilding across the world. The network is organised around 15 regional networks of local organisations, each region having its own priorities, character and agenda. Each region is represented in an International Steering Group, which determines joint global priorities and actions. GPPAC was initiated through extensive consultations in 2003-4, and officially launched as part of a global conference in 2005 at the UN headquarters in New York.

As part of its mission to work towards a global shift from reaction to prevention of violent conflict, GPPAC strives towards multi-actor collaboration and local ownership. Together, GPPAC members aim to achieve greater synergy in the field of conflict prevention and peacebuilding by connecting different levels (from national to regional and global), and to strengthen the role of local civil society groups in conflict regions.
GPPAC supports the capacity of the regional networks to interact and act together, and facilitates regional and global exchanges, where members from different parts of the world come together and learn from each others' experiences and develop joint strategies. GPPAC also connect its members with other relevant actors, including the UN, regional intergovernmental organisations, state actors, the media and academia. This has enabled unique initiatives, showing GPPAC's ability to bridge global policy making with local ownership and practice on the ground.
To read more about GPPAC's work in 2011, please click here. 

For 2011-2015, the GPPAC Strategic Plan defines four key strategies to mobilise the network: Action Learning; Public Outreach; Policy & Advocacy; and Regional Action &Network Strengthening. The thematic priorities which provide the content for each of GPPAC's strategies include:

• Preventive Action: developing tools and capacities to enable CSOs to assess conflict situations, formulate action plans and mobilise action to prevent conflicts in collaboration with others;
• Dialogue & Mediation: building capacity and mobilising the expertise within the network to directly support dialogue and mediation efforts in conflict situations;
• Peace Education: promoting and enhancing methodologies for formal and informal education that fosters a culture of dialogue and peaceful handling of conflict;
• Human Security: developing a bottom-up approach to Security, by providing the input of grassroots CSOs in the development and implementation of security strategies such as DDR, SSR, measures to address violent extremism, and civil-military interventions;
• Gender and the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 as a cross-cutting priority.

GPPAC seeks to pool civil society efforts and develop strategic partnerships around these themes with three key target groups in mind: the UN system; Regional Intergovernmental Organisations (RIGOs); and state actors in conflict (-prone) countries and regions, as well as donor governments such as the US and EU member states.

GPPAC has also developed the Peace Portal, which was launched in January 2012. The Peace Portal is a unique online platform for learning, sharing and collaborating in the conflict prevention and peacebuilding field. It aims to bring people together and transform their online work into active, more effective peacebuilding.The Portal encourages information sharing and participation from civil society and grassroots organisations, whose voices often can not find the online visibility they need. Open to everybody, the Peace Portal is an important tool for GPPAC, to support its peacebuilding activities.

To read more, please see the strategic plan for 2011-2015 here.