Life & Peace Institute (LPI)

Founded in 1985 following the 1983 Life & Peace Conference in Uppsala, the Life & Peace Institute (LPI) is an international peacebuilding and research organization that supports civil society in nonviolent conflict transformation. LPI operates on the core understanding that sustainable peace requires the active participation of conflict-affected populations, placing a primary focus on women and youth. The organization connects local community initiatives with continental and international policy platforms across the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region, and Sweden.

Global Presence & Operations

| Metric / Detail | Scope | | --- | --- | | Operational Countries | Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Sweden | | Office Locations | Uppsala (Sweden), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Nairobi (Kenya), and Bukavu (DRC) | | Staff & Experience | Over 60 global staff members; more than 35 years of peacebuilding experience |

Strategic Approach & Core Objectives

• Community-Led Peacebuilding: Supporting local actors, women, and youth to design and lead nonviolent conflict transformation processes.
• Connecting Local to Global: Ensuring grassroots perspectives inform national, regional, and international policy agendas, while translating global frameworks into localized action.
• Continuous Learning & Research: Combining participatory action research, policy engagement, and innovative methodologies (e.g., Sustained Dialogue and Bottom-Up Evaluation) to address conflict dynamics.
• Institutional Partnerships: Cooperating with universities, civil society networks, government ministries, and regional bodies including the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Organizational History & Milestone Timeline

| Year | Key Organizational Milestones | | --- | --- | | 1983 | Life & Peace Conference convened in Uppsala by church networks to address global East-West tensions. | | 1985 | LPI formally established as a Peace Research Institute by the Swedish Ecumenical Council under Ambassador Olle Dahlén (President) and Dr. Kjell Skjelsbæk (Executive Director). | | 1989 | Signed first partnership agreement in Ethiopia with the Peace and Development Center (PDC); launched the flagship Horn of Africa Bulletin (HAB). | | 1990 | Initiated peacebuilding programs in Sudan; mediated discussions between the Ethiopian government and Eritrean groups. | | 1991 | Supported post-conflict peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in Somaliland. | | 1996 | Established the Horn of Africa Regional Programme based out of Nairobi, Kenya. | | 2002 | Commenced direct peacebuilding operations in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). | | 2008 | Partnered with Somalia Peace Line; launched the Sustained Dialogue model with PDC at Addis Ababa University. | | 2009 | Opened an office in Khartoum, Sudan; partnered with SONAD for Participatory Action Research in Southern Kordofan. | | 2011 | Established formal partnership with ZamZam in Somalia. | | 2012 | Expanded peacebuilding interventions into Kenya's Tana River and Marsabit counties. | | 2013 | Expanded Sustained Dialogue to Haramaya University (Ethiopia); conducted conflict-sensitive reporting training for Kenyan journalists. | | 2014 | Opened Addis Ababa office for the Horn of Africa Regional Programme (HARP); expanded Sustained Dialogue to Jimma University (Ethiopia), Ahfad University, and University of Khartoum (Sudan). | | 2015 | Signed official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Union (AU). | | 2016 | Signed MoU with IGAD; formed partnership with Somali Women Solidarity Organization (SWSO). | | 2017 | Rolled out Sustained Dialogue across Ambo, Bahir Dar, and Gondar universities; launched natural resource conflict initiatives in Turkana (Kenya); signed MoU with Ethiopia's Ministry of Federal and Pastoralist Affairs. | | 2018 | Supported adoption of the IGAD Cross-Border Trade and Security Policy Framework; established the Knowledge & Learning Unit (KLU); launched Sweden Engagement program. | | 2019 | Partnered with Somali Women’s Study Centre; rolled out Bottom-Up Evaluation methodology in Eastern DRC. |