Peace Through Trade
Fostering economic cooperation across dividing lines to create shared interests and interdependence.
Our Approach to Trade
At the IFED International Peace Center, we believe that economic cooperation is a powerful tool for building peace. When communities engage in trade, they create shared interests and interdependencies that can transcend historical divisions and conflicts.
We work with local businesses, governments, and international organizations to identify and remove barriers to trade between communities in conflict, facilitating dialogue and streamlining cross-border trade processes.
We support the development of joint business ventures that bring together entrepreneurs and investors from communities in conflict, creating shared economic interests and opportunities for collaboration.
We engage with governments, international organizations, and the private sector to promote policies that support peace through trade, addressing systemic barriers and creating incentives for cooperation.
Success Stories
Our trade initiatives have made a significant impact in regions around the world. Here are some examples of how our approach has fostered peace through economic cooperation:
Balkan Business Bridge
We facilitated a series of business partnerships between entrepreneurs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia, creating jobs and fostering dialogue across ethnic lines.
Middle East Trade Network
Our work with olive oil producers in Israel and Palestine created a joint export initiative that has increased incomes and built relationships between communities.
African Cross-Border Markets
We supported the development of managed marketplaces along contested borders in East Africa, providing safe spaces for trade and dialogue between communities in conflict.
Get Involved
Join us in our mission to build peace through economic cooperation and trade.