Policy Advice and Analysis
Research and policy advice are an integral part of ZIF’s comprehensive approach. We offer research, policy advice and strategic dialogue on individual missions as well as on cross-cutting topics.
Policy Advice
When we provide advice on peace operations, civilian crisis prevention and stabilisation, we review current developments, compile background information, devise options for action and discuss them with political decision-makers. We tailor our services to the needs of the Federal Government of Germany, the German Parliament, as well as to those international organisations, with whom we cooperate closely, such as the UN, the EU, the AU and the OSCE.
Recently, we have directed particular attention to the following topics: the evolution of civilian CSDP, designing and planning transition processes such as in Darfur, German and international engagement in Ukraine and the Sahel region, mediation capacities in Germany and implementing the Federal Government’s “Guidelines on Preventing Crises, Resolving Conflicts and Building Peace.”
- We offer briefings for federal ministries and parliamentary groups, as well as for parliamentary committees and working groups.
- In the context of the German Parliament’s debates surrounding German military deployments, we keep stakeholders abreast of current developments, progress and challenges faced in peace operations involving the German armed forces.
- We support policy and reform processes at the national level and in international organisations by providing working papers, convening dialogues and facilitating a structured exchange between political and practice-oriented interests.
Our analysis products, policy briefings and background information are available on our website.
Our Approach
In an effort to be field-focused, a key pillar of our analytical, conceptual and advisory work is our own experience and knowledge of peace operations. The analysis team at ZIF benefits from many years of operational experience in various organisations and countries of deployment. We closely confer with specialised and senior staff in the headquarters of international organisations and field missions. The regular exchange with ZIF’s own civilian experts provides us with unique insights into current challenges as well as into field-based approaches to address those challenges.
The continuous and direct interplay of policy and practice is of central importance to us. Our dialogue events, conferences and workshops serve as a platform for identifying lessons learned and a forum for constructive discussions between mission personnel, decision-makers and the research community.
Working together with our international partners, we translate field experience into advice on policy processes and the further conceptual development of peace operations, crisis prevention and stabilisation. Together we assess methods, compare analytical results and develop instruments to understand and analyse field experiences.