Projects and Partnerships

Concordis International is a British non-profit organisation that works alongside and in support of official peace processes, where they exist, to improve the chances of lasting peace by building consensus on divisive issues.  Healthy relationships between individuals and communities at all levels of society are a crucial element of preventing violent conflict, resolving ongoing fighting and building or rebuilding sustainable peace.  Experience has shown that such relationships can best be nurtured when individuals engage together on the basis of shared interests in an atmosphere where trust is encouraged.  Personal relationships across conflict boundaries, such as those developed in our consultations, help to make negotiations successful and more likely to lead to sustained peace founded on equity, justice and common interests.  However, it would be naïve to suggest that such a relational concept can stand alone; interests, identity and ideology of conflict parties need to be taken into account.

Broadly, the Concordis process has the dual aims of: a) developing consensus on constructive solutions to long-term issues underlying conflict and b) building relationships across the lines of conflict.  The work is underpinned by values - such as justice, equity, trust and respect - that are shared by those of many faiths and traditions.