Impact Where America Needs It: A USIP Fact Sheet [& Experts]United States Institute of PeaceUSIP _6d1c918e-6bc6-4d16-b0c8-98c609cc51d4The United States Institute of Peace is an independent national institute, founded by Congress and dedicated to the proposition that a world without violent conflict is possible, practical, and essential for U.S. and global security. USIP pursues this vision on the ground in conflict zones, working with local partners to prevent conflicts from turning to bloodshed and to end it when they do. The Institute provides training, analysis, and other resources to people, organizations, and governments working to build peace.President Ronald ReaganPresident Ronald Reagan signed legislation creating the Institute in 1984.CongressThe Institute was created by leaders in Congress who had lived through the devastation of war and hoped to prevent it in the future. Congress appropriates the Institute's funding -- $37.8 million this year -- to ensure that it remains nonpartisan and independent of outside influence.USIP Board of DirectorsThe Institute has a bipartisan board of directors that by statute includes the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the President of the National Defense University.Secretary of DefenseSecretary of StatePresident, National Defense UniversityUSIP ExpertsCopied on October 30, 2017, from https://www.usip.org/expertsPamela AallSenior Advisor for Conflict Prevention and ManagementDr. Elie AbouaounDirector, Middle East and North Africa ProgramsBelquis AhmadiSenior Program OfficerKhitam Al-KhaykaneeProgram Officer, Rule of Law, Justice and SecurityFrank AumSenior Expert, North KoreaRaya BarazanjiSenior Program Officer, Middle East & AfricaShaazka BeyerleJennings Randolph Senior FellowWilliam ByrdSenior Expert, AfghanistanDaryn CambridgeSenior Program OfficerJohnnie CarsonSenior Advisor to the PresidentJonas ClaesSenior Program Officer, Global Practice and InnovationPriscilla A. ClappSenior AdvisorElizabeth A. "Lili" ColeSenior Program Officer, Fellows ProgramAnn-Louise ColganDirector, Public EducationColin CookmanProgram Officer, Asia CenterChristopher CurtinMarine Corps FellowEna DionSenior Program Officer, Rule of Law, Justice and SecurityTheo DolanDirector, PeaceMedia and PeaceTech Lab Africa, PeaceTech LabDarine El HageRegional Program Officer, Center for Middle East and AfricaLeanne ErdbergDirector, Countering Violent ExtremismNadia GerspacherDirector, Education & Capacity BuildingOsama GhariziRegional Program Manager, Middle EastCorinne GraffSenior Policy ScholarSarhang HamasaeedDirector, Middle East ProgramsSusan HaywardSenior Advisor, Religion & Inclusive SocietiesSteve HegeSenior Program Officer, Middle East & AfricaJeffrey HelsingAssociate Vice PresidentJoseph HewittVice President for Policy, Learning and StrategySheldon HimelfarbPresident and CEO, PeaceTech LabAnne HingeleyDirector, Office of Congressional RelationsPaul HughesSpecial Advisor and Director, Overseas Safety and SecurityEdward JacksonLibya Program OfficerVanessa JohansonCountry Director, BurmaPalwasha L. KakarSenior Program Officer, Religion and Inclusive SocietiesPayton KnopfCoordinator, South Sudan Senior Working GroupCarla KoppellVice President, Applied Conflict TransformationNeil KritzSenior Scholar in ResidenceKathleen Kuehnast, Ph.D.Director, Gender Policy and StrategyLucy Kurtzer-EllenbogenDirector, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict ProgramIllana M. LancasterSenior Program Officer for Curriculum and TrainingPhilippe Leroux-MartinDirector, Rule of Law, Justice and SecurityDebra Liang-FentonSenior Program OfficerNancy LindborgPresidentPrinceton N. LymanSenior Advisor to the PresidentAlison MilofskyDirector, Training & Curriculum DesignDerek MitchellSenior Advisor to the Asia CenterLelia MooneySenior Program Officer, Global Practice and InnovationJeremy MooreProgram Officer, Asia CenterElizabeth MurraySenior Program Officer, Middle East & AfricaOge OnuboguSenior Program Officer, Africa ProgramsNancy PayneVice President, PeaceTech LabBarmak PazhwakSenior Program Officer, South & Central AsiaBhojraj PokharelJennings Randolph Senior FellowSteve PomperSenior Policy ScholarColette RauschAssociate Vice President, Global Practice and InnovationSteven RiskinDirector, Grants Strategy Team & Funders InitiativeCandace RondeauxSenior Program Officer, Applied Conflict TransformationJim RufSenior Program OfficerJumaina SiddiquiProgram Officer, Asia CenterAndrew SnowSenior FellowKay SpencerProgram Officer, Asia CenterJennifer StaatsDirector, China ProgramsSteven E. SteinerGender AdvisorMaria J. StephanSenior AdvisorSusan StigantDirector of Africa ProgramsSehar TariqPakistan Country RepresentativeWilliam B. TaylorExecutive Vice PresidentRosarie TucciDirector, Inclusive SocietiesAly VerjeeVisiting ExpertMichael WagnerArmy FellowAnn WainscottSenior AAR FellowAndrew WilderVice President, Asia ProgramsJay WiseJennings Randolph Senior FellowScott WordenDirector, Afghanistan and Central Asia ProgramsRobin WrightDistinguished ScholarMona YacoubianSenior Policy ScholarMichael YaffeVice President, Middle East and AfricaMoeed YusufAssociate Vice President, Asia CenterDiane ZelenyVice President of External Relations... a world without violent conflict_0f017c04-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d9To prevent violent conflict_0f017d1c-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d9PeaceCost-EffectivenessUSIP's initiatives are cost-effective. They equip countries to manage and resolve conflict themselves and reduce the need for U.S. military deployments abroad.NonpartisanshipIndependenceArmed ConflictPrevent, reduce, and resolve armed conflict around the world._0f017e16-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d91USIP TeamsUSIP's specialized teams -- mediators, trainers and others -- work in some of the world's most dangerous places, including Iraq and Afghanistan.MediatorsTrainersDangerous PlacesIraqAfghanistanUSIP works to prevent, reduce, and resolve armed conflict around the world. The Institute applies practical solutions directly in conflict zones and provides analysis, education, and resources to those working for peace.Peace AccordsMediate peace accords in local conflicts._0f017f92-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d91.1In the fight against ISIS, USIP mediates peace accords in local conflicts in Iraqi communities that have been devastated by the extremist group. In 2015, USIP facilitated a local Sunni-Shia accord in Tikrit that averted bloodshed and let 380,000 internally displaced people return home.Extremist RecruitmentInhibit extremist recruitment._0f0180f0-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d91.2ExtremistsTunisian University StudentsTo inhibit extremist recruitment among a highly vulnerable population, USIP in 2015 and 2016 provided training to Tunisian university students on how to resolve conflicts without violence.ElectionsFacilitate peaceful elections._0f0181fe-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d91.3AfghanistanIn Afghanistan, USIP led a successful campaign that facilitated peaceful elections in 2014 despite Taliban calls for violence.BurmaIn Burma, USIP trained civic leaders, government officials, and police to help achieve a peaceful 2015 election for a more democratic government during a delicate transition from autocratic rule to democracy.Capacity BuildingBuild the capacity of the U.S. military, diplomatic, and development communities to combat extremism and stabilize war-torn countries._0f018334-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d91.4U.S. Military CommunityU.S. Diplomatic CommunityU.S. Development CommunityWar-Torn CountriesWith training, research, and other programs in the U.S. and abroad, USIP builds the capacity of the U.S. military, diplomatic, and development communities to combat extremism and stabilize war-torn countries.ConveningsBring together experts and practitioners in peacebuilding._0f018488-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d92Peacebuilding ExpertsPeacebuilding PractitionersIraqIn Iraq, USIP and its partners facilitated local peace agreements for Mahmoudiya (2007) and Tikrit (2015) that ended communal warfare, let displaced families return home, and reduced the need for U.S. or foreign troops . USIP is expanding its Iraqi partners' capacity for such peacemaking, and recently supported a pact that aims to avert violence at Hawija following its recapture from ISIS.AfghanistanIn Afghanistan, USIP supports grassroots movements to oppose corruption, counter extremist messages, and promote peaceful elections. The Institute helps universities develop courses in conflict resolution, including in areas where the Taliban and ISIS are active. USIP assists the government in improving legal mechanisms to resolve land disputes.ColombiaIn Colombia, USIP expanded the role of women and minorities in the negotiations that ended 50 years of civil war in 2016. The Institute trains and supports local organizations to devise peaceful solutions for the inevitable conflicts that arise with implementation.NigeriaIn Nigeria, USIP convenes the country's influential state governors with eminent civic and religious leaders to develop a pragmatic strategy for reducing the root causes of radicalization and the Boko Haram insurgency.Youth LeadersAcross Africa and the Middle East, USIP's Generation Change program builds the skills of emerging youth leaders working for peace in communities across a dozen countries, from Nigeria to South Sudan to Yemen. USIP recently expanded the program to Colombia to build young Colombians' ability to support the difficult implementation of the peace accord.AfricaMiddle EastUSIP brings together experts and practitioners in peacebuilding to ... [Editor's note: This goal and the following objectives were copied from https://www.usip.org/about] Best PracticesIdentify the best ways to counter violent extremism and promote religious tolerance._0f0185be-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d92.1Rule of LawDevelop practical tools to improve the rule of law in chaotic environments after violent conflict._0f01871c-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d92.2Conflict Prevention & PeacebuildingRigorously test approaches to conflict prevention and peacebuilding to ensure the United States is using the most constructive and cost-effective tools to protect U.S. interests._0f01891a-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d92.3Media, Networking & TechnologyUse traditional media, social networking, and emerging technologies to track, prevent, and resolve violent conflict._0f018a6e-bd96-11e7-aafa-f9399842c8d92.42017-05-092017-10-30https://www.usip.org/publications/2017/05/impact-where-america-needs-itOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net