Armed conflict can be reduced. We’ve seen it happen.
Between 1990 and 2020, 180 wars were stopped or prevented.
However, the appalling human and economic cost of war continues.
We can do better!
The cost of war/year.
People driven from their homes by war.
Unfolding all over the world right now.
Each time we stop war, we save lives, keep families together, and give children a future they can plan for.
Here are four practices that improve our ability to do this:
Peace is never built alone. Collaboration connects organizations, funders, and local communities, aligning goals and sharing knowledge so that collective action leads to stronger, more coordinated, longer-lasting outcomes.
Peacebuilding is most effective when guided by facts, not assumptions. Past successes provide plenty of evidence about what methods achieve the best results in what types of conflicts. We should apply this evidence to improve results.
Peace begins with those who live closest to the conflict. Local people understand the context, relationships, and culture that shape every solution. Partnering with local leaders in the design and management process turns outside support into lasting change.
Peacemakers with specialized skills can get better results that merit increased funding.
The Less War Initiative exists to help make peace efforts more effective at preventing and reducing armed conflict. We connect funders, practitioners, and researchers to share approaches, challenge assumptions, and improve our collective practices so fewer communities experience the devastation of war.