Prevention in Action

We are taking the existing fragments of peace in fragile states with peoples’ hopes for their future and making peace possible. Practically, this means we link early warning information on potential future violent conflicts with targeted grants, advocacy, technical assistance and local, regional and international partnerships. Learn more about the countries we work in and what it means to actually prevent political violence below.

Guinea

More than a year ago, early warning data indicated that Guinea was facing an unstable future as its president of 25 years, Lansana Conte, was on his deathbed. In response BEFORE sent an assessment team in to see if we could be of assistance. But prior to being able to launch a project, President Conte suddenly died and a new military government came to power in Guinea. Today, BEFORE and our partners are committed to assisting Guineans peacefully manage this period of transition. Read more

Guinea-Bissau

When BEFORE’s implementing partner first started a program in Guinea-Bissau, it seemed as if it was a forgotten country. With 1.5 million people, this small West African nation had seen a series of coups and counter-coups. Five years ago, early warning data said that Guinea-Bissau was due for yet another bout of violence. In response a project was started in Guinea-Bissau and today our work continues to foster local ownership and build local capacities for long-term peace whether its supporting peaceful elections, freedom of press, or anti-drug trafficking policy. Read more