International Organisational Development (OD)

We provide Organisational Development support to international organisations and networks that have peacebuilding at the core of their mandate. We support them to play their intermediary role in a way that ensures that those most affected by conflict can lead the way in building sustainable peace.

International peacebuilding organisations operate in increasingly challenging contexts; the space and funding for civil society action is shrinking while norms underpinning accountable and participatory peacebuilding are being eroded. Despite increasingly divided and hostile contexts, most international organisations remain engaged and committed to inclusive peacebuilding. However, the imperative for adaptation is strong. Often in dialogue with local partners, international organisations are rethinking and adapting their roles, strategies, and structures to build more resilient local organisations, networks, and societies with strong links to international policy fora and funding.

We support the courageous intermediary organisations that are not only adapting to new political and financial realities but also seizing this moment of reckoning to further transform their roles, governance, funding and partnership practices to make good on the long-standing promise of localisation. Now, more than ever, it is time to ensure those most affected by conflict can lead the way in building sustainable peace – enabled by mutually accountable, equitable partnerships.

We select our partners through Calls for Proposals. The most recent Call was in 2025 . Our partners include international organisations, networks, and coalitions with peacebuilding at the core of their mission. We work with partners that are operational in at least five countries and demonstrate a commitment to locally-led peacebuilding.  During the selection process, we assess their impact, ability to influence the broader sector, and their readiness for transformation, as our support spans 3 to 4 years and requires a significant time investment.

In addition to supporting organisational strengthening processes, we facilitate collective initiatives that foster peer learning and mutual support with our partners and other peacebuilding actors. We also collaborate with donors seeking to shift their funding practices, and co-convene learning spaces that promote models and approaches that enable locally-led peacebuilding.

Results of our Organisational Development support

Every Organisational Development process is different, tailored to our partners’ specific needs and realities. Our partners report that our support has enabled them to revise their strategic priorities and alignment, and that they have strengthened their internal systems and practices, which has in turn directly improved their ability to engage their members and/or local partners. The desired outcome is always to enable conflict-sensitive, mutually accountable and adaptive partnerships between local and international actors – and a greater impact on the ground.

“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end” (Heraclitus).”

We only communicate about our partners’ organisational journey when they are ready to share it.