CIVICUS speaks with Shamil Idriss, CEO of Search for Common Ground, about the rising impacts of conflict and new approaches to peacebuilding. Search for Common Ground is an international organisation that works in over 30 countries to end violent conflict by bringing divided communities together to find cooperative solutions.
One in four people live in countries affected by violent conflict. Peacebuilding is urgent, but it can’t succeed when people’s basic needs aren’t met. Search for Common Ground works to change how conflicts are handled, moving from violence to dialogue and collaboration. Their approach, called multipartiality, involves listening to and engaging all conflict parties without taking sides and building understanding across divides. By investing in dialogue and co-created solutions rather than militarised responses, the organisation helps communities recover, rebuild trust and plan together for the future, showing that lasting peace is possible when people and their needs are at the centre.
