About Search for Common GroundEnd violent conflict. It's our purpose -- our call to action. Instead of tearing down an existing world, we focus on constructing a new one. We do this through a type of peacebuilding called conflict transformation. Meaning: we look to change the everyday interactions between groups of people in conflict, so they can work together to build up their community, choosing joint problem-solving over violence. Our ability to deal with conflict affects how we handle every issue humanity is facing. Whether global in nature, such as poverty, hunger or the environment, or closer to home, such as family or community relations, we face daily challenges to our abilities to deal with conflict constructively.Conflict and differences are inevitable. Violence is not. We partner with people around the world to ignite shared solutions to destructive conflicts. We work at all levels of society to build sustainable peace through three main avenues: Dialogue+, Media+, and Community+. WHAT WE TACKLE: * CONFLICT SENSITIVITY * NATURAL RESOURCE CONFLICTS * DISARMAMENT, DEMOBILIZATION, & REINTEGRATION * RECONCILIATION * FAIR & RESPONSIBLE MEDIA * REFUGEE & INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT ISSUES * GENDER EQUALITY * SECURITY SECTOR REFORM * GOVERNANCE, DEMOCRACY & ELECTIONS * SEXUAL & GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE * INTERFAITH COOPERATION * VIOLENT EXTREMISMSearch for Common GroundSFCG_42265c7c-caf3-11e5-965f-671915867c5cSFCG is registered as a 501©(3) nonprofit charitable organization in the United States, and as a nonprofit association in Brussels, Belgium.SFCG EXECUTIVE TEAMSHAMIL IDRISSPresident & CEO -- Shamil Idriss became the President & Chief Executive Officer of Search for Common Ground in September 2014. Shamil worked with us in a variety of capacities from 1993 - 2004, including as Burundi Country Director - the organization's largest program at the time - and as our first Chief Operating Officer from 2001 - 2004. Prior to returning to SFCG, he was the CEO of Soliya, a pioneer in the use of new media for cross-cultural dialogue and exchange and founding member of the Exchange 2.0 Coalition. In 2005 he was appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as Deputy Director of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, a project of the Secretary-General established to improve cross-cultural understanding and cooperation between Western and Muslim-majority societies. He has served on the Steering Committee of the World Economic Forum's Council of 100 Leaders and the Board of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, and is a member of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders.SANDRA MELONEExecutive Vice President -- Sandra Melone has worked with us since 1995 and has served as our Executive Vice President since 2007. Prior to becoming our Executive Vice President, Sandra founded the Women's Peace Centre in Burundi, and established our Brussels Headquarters. Sandra is a founding member of the European Platform for Conflict Prevention and Transformation (EPCPT); of the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO); and of the Child Soldiers Initiative (CSI), on all of whose Steering Committees she served. She also served on the Board of the International Federation of Associations in Belgium (FAIB); and as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP). Before working in conflict transformation, Sandra worked in human rights advocacy with Amnesty International, and in international education. She has given numerous presentations and led workshops and trainings in conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, consensus-building, team-building, facilitation, cross-cultural communication, fundraising and NGO management. She has appeared on CNN, BBC, and VOA and has written articles published in a variety of international outlets, on the media and conflict resolution; the role NGOs can play in Track II diplomacy and reconciliation; the complementarities of governmental, non-governmental, intergovernmental and private sector initiatives; and civil-military cooperation. Sandra studied at the University of Chicago and Ludwig-Maximilian Universitat in Munich; speaks English, French, German and Romanian; and has worked in Africa, America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.LENA SLACHMUIJLDERVice President of Programs -- Lena Slachmuijlder brings 25 years of experience working for peace and social change in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Before joining the Washington, DC headquarters, she lived and worked in Africa for 21 years as a journalist, editor, human rights defender, director, producer, performing artist, cultural facilitator, trainer, and project manager. Lena graduated from Stanford University before heading to South Africa in 1990 and working as a journalist and human rights defender during the transition to democracy. She joined Search for Common Ground in Burundi in 2001, heading the ‘Studio Ijambo’ radio production studio, while supporting regional media efforts. In 2005, she was appointed Country Director in DR Congo, growing it to become Search’s largest program, with seven offices around the country working on repatriation, sexual violence, governance, elections, security sector reform, and regional cohesion. In the DRC, Lena pioneered tools such as participatory theatre, a reality TV show, and innovative approaches to army and police reform. She has trained journalists, artists and peace builders on all continents, has published numerous articles, and wrote and produced a documentary film about Burundi's 'Heroes.' She now oversees all of Search’s Regional Directors and supports our programs across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Lena is fluent in English, French, and Zulu and has working knowledge of Swahili, Lingala, and Kirundi.THOMAS DOWNINGChief Financial Officer -- Thomas Downing joined us in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer. Tom served earlier as CFO of Liberia’s national seaports and its forestry authority, helping rebuild those institutions in the wake of protracted civil war. With the Palestinian National Authority, he designed and launched a municipal development bank. Tom brings a business perspective to the development field, gained as financial manager with a multi-national manufacturer. He has taught finance in graduate programs and served as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of the West Indies. He earned an MBA at Harvard Business School.MATIAS AVERBUJChief Operating Officer -- Matías Averbuj brings a wealth of change management experience to his role as Chief Operating Officer. He moved into the role after nearly five years as our Global Director of Information Technology, where he led all technology strategic planning, including consulting on field projects and administrative departments, developing and managing IT budgets and priorities and facilitating decision processes. He has carried out global initiatives such as improving communications and collaboration on electronic documents; designing and implementing a global human resources information system; instituting a remote global asset management solution; strategizing and implementing a new Intranet and organizational website; and fostering connectivity throughout the field offices. With a focus on automation, standardization, and maximizing the use of available resources, Matias has been able to transform operations by setting new models of management that are being adopted by other international nonprofit organizations. As Director of Information Technology at The Washington Center, he led all technology strategy, policy, implementation, and operations, creating the vision and strategic road-map for IT’s infrastructure. His work has enabled him to develop in-depth expertise in a diverse range of technologies across different industries and regions. Matias has a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio.SFCG GLOBAL LEADERSHIP TEAMOur Global Leadership Team also include the Executive Team members.REBECCA BESANTRegional Director, East Africa -- Rebecca Besant is our Regional Director for East Africa. She has been working with us since 2001, beginning in the DC office and then moving to Liberia in 2005 as the West Africa Program Manager. She served as the Africa Program Manager from 2006-2010, supporting new program development in Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Sudan during that time. In September 2010 she became the Director for the Great Lakes and Rwanda, managing the country programs as well as our regional strategy. She has been the Director for East Africa since January 2012. Based in Kigali, Rwanda, she is responsible for oversight to the Burundi, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe programs as well as regional projects in the Great Lakes and Ethiopia. She also manages the Radio for Peacebuilding Africa initiative (www.radiopeaceafrica.org). Prior to working with us she worked in development at Trout Unlimited, and also as a lightweight women’s crew coach at Georgetown University.ABOU FASSI-FIHRIRegional Director, Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Programs -- Based in Tunis, Abou El Mahassine Fassi-Fihri is Regional Director, MENA, with over nine years of experience with NGOs and multilateral agencies, including the World Bank and the European Commission. Abou brings extensive experience on designing and managing conflict prevention and institution-building programs focused on mediation, alternative dispute resolution, youth and media. Abou headed our European office, where he served as our representative in Brussels and was responsible for overseeing country programs. He is a former board member of the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), the largest alliance of peacebuilding organizations in Europe. Abou began working with our office in Rabat, Morocco in 2004 and served as Morocco Country Director from 2005 to 2008. Abou holds a Master’s Degrees from George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) in International Humanitarian Assistance. He has published articles on international affairs and mediation in newspapers in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Abou is a dual Moroccan-Belgian citizen and speaks French, English and North African Arabic.MICHAEL SHIPLERRegional Director, Asia -- Michael Shipler is our Regional Director of Asia Programs where he oversees program offices in Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Timor Leste. Michael has been working in peacebuilding for thirteen years, developing a range of programs focused on youth, media, civil-military affairs, and governance. He previously served as our Senior Program Advisor, providing support to peacebuilding and democratization initiatives in a number of countries, including Yemen, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Angola, and others. He supported our programs in methodology and strategy development. He co-led technical assistance on a 17-country communications initiative, The Team, using sport, television drama series, and community-based activities to build peace. He previously served as Director of Programs for our Nepal office where co-started and directed a national, multi-pronged media and community program in support of the peace process. He is the founder and former director of our global Children & Youth Division. In that capacity he co-founded the Washington Network on Children and Armed Conflict (WNCAC) and co-created The Child Soldiers Initiative -- a global project aimed at eradicating the use of children as soldiers -- done in partnership with Lt. General Roméo Dallaire and other institutions. He served as an advisor for the Nigerian television series, The Station, and supported children and youth-focused peacebuilding programs around the world. He authored Youth Radio for Peacebuilding: A Guide, as part of Radio for Peacebuilding Africa. Previously, while working for Youth for Peace, a youth-led organization in Cambodia, he developed a youth leadership development division that helps youth find ways of avoiding violence and contributing to reconciliation in their own communities. Michael is currently pursuing his MA in War in the Modern World at Kings College in London. He is the author of The Dancing Country and Other Stories.SFCG BOARD OF DIRECTORSGARY DIBIANCOBoard Chair -- Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & FlomERIC A. BERMANEVP | Public Affairs, Universal Music GroupADAM BERREYCEO, CuroverseLESLY BLACKPhilanthropistAMBASSADOR (RET.) ELINOR CONSTABLEFormer US Assistant Secretary of StateNAOMI DAVISCEO, Drumhouse (Surrey) LimitedPATRICK DE WOLFPartner, DeWolf & PartnersABIGAIL E. DISNEYFilmmaker, Philanthropist, ActivistJOHN L. ESPOSITOUniversity Professor & Founding Director, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown UniversityTIMOTHY FEIGESenior Vice President and International Insurance Group Executive, Prudential International InsuranceJEREMY S. GOLDBERGPresident, LeagueAppsJO-ANNE HARTProfessor, Lesley University Research Faculty, Brown UniversityDOUGLAS W. KENYONPartner, Hunton & WilliamsTOM MANLEYSenior Counsel, Hunton & WilliamsJAMES MEIERPresident, Arete CorporationAMBASSADOR (RET.) GEORGE MOOSEAdjunct Professor and Professorial Lecturer, Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington UniversityJOHN E. MULLINSPresident and Co-Founder, Greystone Financial Group, Inc.ROBERT J. REYNOLDSInvestment Banker (ret.)ELIZABETH RIKERSenior Partner, New Profit Innovation FundSUHAIL R. RIZVIFounder & Chairman, Rizvi | Traverse ManagementDR. ALEXANDROS SPACHISAmbassador (ret.) European External Action ServiceINGRID STANGEFounder and Chair, Partnership for Change and the PfC Social Innovation FundCATHRINE STECKPartner, Arrington Natural ResourcesRANDY WRIGHTPartner, Berry Moorman P.C.SHAMIL IDRISSPresident & CEO, Search for Common Ground * Ex-officio memberSFCG StakeholdersWHO WE WORK WITHARTISTSCHILDRENYOUTHMEDIA PROFESSIONALSMILITARYPOLICEPOLITICAL LEADERSPRISONERSRELIGIOUS LEADERSWOMEN... a world where: * Differences stimulate social progress, rather than precipitate violence. * Respect for and cooperation with those we disagree with is considered the norm for individuals, communities, organizations, and nations._42265eca-caf3-11e5-965f-671915867c5cTo transform the way the world deals with conflict, away from adversarial approaches, toward cooperative solutions._42265fe2-caf3-11e5-965f-671915867c5cGoalsBring people together across dividing lines to discover and achieve shared goals. _422660c8-caf3-11e5-965f-671915867c5c1DIALOGUE+ Whether at the local or national level, we bring people together across dividing lines to discover and achieve shared goals. We work with those traditionally in power and those without a platform, often women and youth. Examples: mediation, training youth leaders, back channel diplomacy, and more._422661cc-caf3-11e5-965f-671915867c5cThoughts & DiscussionsUse media to stir up thoughts and discussions across a whole society about the root causes of violence and how to overcome differences._422662b2-caf3-11e5-965f-671915867c5c2MEDIA+ While a dialogue affects dozens, media impacts millions. We use media to stir up thoughts and discussions across a whole society about the root causes of violence and how to overcome differences. Examples: TV dramas, call-in radio shows, music videos, and more._4226638e-caf3-11e5-965f-671915867c5cConflict ResolutionProvide a safe space for people to work out their conflicts at the local level._42266488-caf3-11e5-965f-671915867c5c3COMMUNITY+ We provide a safe space for people to work out their conflicts at the local level. With some creative thinking, we bring divided communities, neighbors, and families together to discover their common humanity. Examples: soccer matches, participatory theater, shared farming projects, and more._4226656e-caf3-11e5-965f-671915867c5c2016-02-03https://www.sfcg.org/our-mission/OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net