The European Centre for Confl ict Prevention / Stichting Europees Centrum voor Confl ictpreventie Annual Report 2007 IncludingIn an overview of the activities of the GlobalGl Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Confl ict 2 Foreword It is my pleasure to have taken over the Regardless of the differences in language position of Chair of the ECCP Board used, two issues are outstanding in these from Jan Hoekema. Currently, ECCP has debates: there is a dire need for solid completed a fairly extensive makeover of its information and good analysis of confl ict- Board membership. To Jan Hoekema and prone situations and everyone is looking all other outgoing Board members, many for institutional innovations that would thanks for your contributions to ECCP. At support a more effective response. On both the management level too, we have seen accounts, civil society organisations have a a change in leadership with the retirement vital role to play. They are often closer to of Paul van Tongeren and the appointment potential confl icts and possess a wealth of of Peter van Tuijl as new ECCP Executive information that has, as yet, to reach the Director. I also would like to thank Paul, broader community of decision makers. whose contribution to ECCP as a founder of In a watchdog role, they can help to keep the organisation is immeasurable. governments, international organisations and other actors sharply focused on what Peace and violent confl ict are high on the needs to be done to prevent or mitigate agenda of governments and international confl ict or armed violence. Moreover, as a organisations. It is an indication of the participant in designing and implementing seriousness of the problem, but also of peacebuilding efforts, they can be part of the political will to do something about it. the necessary institutional innovation. The language used is not always consistent and sometimes contested. Some would ECCP is well positioned to promote the role say that the term ‘fragile states’ is colonial of civil society in peacebuilding, notably by condescending language, others would say fulfi lling the function of global secretariat that ‘confl ict management’ is better than for the Global Partnership for the Prevention ‘confl ict prevention’, because how can we of Armed Confl ict (GPPAC). ever establish that an instance of violent confl ict has been prevented? I am pleased to report to you that the basic conditions of ECCP have improved during 2007. We were able to reduce the defi cit from previous years by a third and now Table of Contents have a better basis of secured funding for 2008. ECCP also successfully concluded the Foreword 2 development and introduction of a new system of monitoring and evaluation based Consolidating and moving forward 3 on the outcome mapping methodology. Activities of the European Centre for Confl ict Prevention 4 I am happy to invite you to read through The Global Partnership for the Prevention 4 our annual report for 2007. Based on these of Armed Confl ict (GPPAC) strong foundations, we are looking forward to the future development of ECCP. Introduction 4 Awareness Raising 5 Joris Voorhoeve Chairman of the Board Interaction and Advocacy 6 Network and Capacity Building 7 A new role for Paul van Tongeren Knowledge Generation and Sharing 8 In August 2007, Paul van Tongeren retired as Early Warning and Early Response 8 ECCP Executive Director. However, Paul will Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning 9 continue his engagement with ECCP part- time in the position of Secretary General for Activities in The Netherlands 10 GPPAC, a new role in which he will focus on People Building Peace Netherlands 10 lobby and advocacy and the strengthening of GPPAC’s network. Peace Boat in Amsterdam 10 Financial Report 11 Auditor’s Report 13 Donor List 14 ECCP Board 14 ECCP Team 2007 15 GPPAC International Steering Group 15 Annual Report 2007 3 Consolidating and moving forward and people across the globe, as well as coming years to networking and know- in its interactions with governments and ledge generation and other specific international organisations. The early years programme issues. We will continue to are over, and I see it as a main task of ECCP engage with many other organisations to continue our endeavours in bringing the in a collaborative spirit, always with an promise of GPPAC to fruition. This leads to eye on our ultimate objective, to make a a number of things to be done. meaningful contribution towards peace. The ECCP organisation must continue its Peter van Tuijl, process of consolidation. The creation Executive Director of a global network is a high-energy, all consuming, task and not surprisingly some aspects of the internal organisation suffered. About the ECCP Starting with the fi nances and creating a balanced budget for 2008, a number of Mission steps have been taken that are intended The European Centre for to strengthen ECCP as a professional, Confl ict Prevention (ECCP) is a flexible organisation: a pleasant place to non-governmental organisation that work and interact with. This will include an promotes effective confl ict prevention ISO standard certification of our internal and peacebuilding strategies, and business process before end 2008. actively supports and connects people working for peace worldwide. Given the focus on the global level in recent years, there is also a need to assert a clear Vision and Guiding Principles position of ECCP within its home base in the We envisage a world in which people Netherlands and Europe. Global networking are able and willing to prevent and is in principle a complex act of articulating transform violent confl icts peacefully. On August 1, 2007, I took over the position a common agenda at different levels at the of ECCP Executive Director from Paul van same time, locally, regionally and globally. We believe in: Tongeren. First of all, I would like to thank In the long run, ECCP would not be able to • a multi-track approach; Paul for his cooperation and efforts to fulfi l the function of secretariat of GPPAC in • the importance of local support me getting into the job. I am equally a credible way, if it is not also fi rmly rooted capacities for peace; grateful for the warm welcome by both the in its own local and regional arena. • partnerships with local ECCP Board and staff. Stepping into the organisations; shoes of a founder and pioneer provides In cooperation with the City of The Hague • long-term engagement; a real challenge to further strengthen and and several other internationally orientated • impartiality. develop ECCP and its key role in the Global organisations in the Netherlands, ECCP has Partnership for the Prevention of Armed started the groundwork for the establish- The ECCP as a Secretariat Confl ict (GPPAC). ment of a Peace Portal. This interactive The European Centre for Confl ict website will have the purpose to serve Prevention holds the secretariat The manifestation of civil society organi- primarily as a conduit for civil society for the Global Partnership for sations around issues of peace and violent organisations in conflict regions and to the Prevention of Armed Confl ict confl ict has changed signifi cantly in recent connect practitioner knowledge with policy (GPPAC): these days, the majority of years. There is a decreasing emphasis on making and academia. It is a next step in the ECCP’s work is focused on this overarching concepts, such as opposing a line of work that has earned ECCP its task, coordinating the network and the use of violence as a legitimate way of reputation; the promotion of the role of civil the various programmes it runs at resolving confl icts. Instead, there has been society in peacebuilding by collecting and the global level in cooperation with a growing focus on concrete actions and publishing relevant stories, most notably 15 regional secretariats worldwide. weaving webs of civil society organisations in the series of “People Building Peace” with a crucial role as sources of knowledge books. Contact and expertise and conduits of political European Centre for Confl ict Prevention participation in processes of peacebuilding. Bridging the gap between early warning Secretariat of the Global Partnership In that regard, the establishment of and early response is still elusive. Finding for the Prevention of Armed Confl ict GPPAC has unlocked a huge potential of new ways of connecting the high-level lobby Laan van Meerdervoort 70 opportunities that we have only begun to and advocacy opportunities opened-up by 2517 AN The Hague explore. GPPAC with field experiences remains a The Netherlands colossal challenge in itself. GPPAC continues tel: +31 (0)70 311 0970 The conference “From Reaction to Preven- to explore ways to strengthen effective fax: +31 (0)70 360 0194 tion” in New York, which launched GPPAC communication about peacebuilding efforts email: info@confl ict-prevention.net onto the map of global networks, took to support an effective response to threats homepage: place in July 2005 and is now almost of violent confl ict. www.confl ict-prevention.net three years behind us. Meanwhile, a lot of www.gppac.net work has been done to further build the I am confident that ECCP will be able to www.peoplebuildingpeace.org network between different organisations make a significant contribution in the 4 Activities of the European Centre GPPAC Vision and Mission for Confl ict Prevention in 2007 Vision GPPAC calls for a fundamental change in dealing with violent confl ict: The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Confl ict a shift from reaction to prevention, as an approach that will save lives, and prove more effective and less destructive. INTRODUCTION International Day of Peace around the We seek a world in which people world each year on 21 September and governments elect non-violent The Global Partnership for the Prevention • Interaction and Advocacy: Strengthening means, rather than armed confl ict, of Armed Confl ict (GPPAC) is a world-wide civil society cooperation with the UN, to achieve greater justice, sustainable civil society-led network to build a new regional intergovernmental organisations development, and human security.