Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC)
Kirsten Meersschaert currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer at the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) since February 2024. Previously, as the Executive Director of International Alert Europe from July 2021 to December 2023, Kirsten established the organization as a prominent peacebuilding leader in the Netherlands and Europe. Earlier roles include Programme Manager for Human Rights Defence at the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Director of Programs for the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, and various positions including Senior Development & Program Officer at the World Federalist Movement - Institute for Global Policy. Kirsten's educational background includes a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of Amsterdam, a Diplôme de troisième cycle in Humanitarian Affairs from the Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques, and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and European Studies from New York University.
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Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC)
The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC –pronounced “gee-pak”) is a member-led network of civil society organisations (CSOs) active in the field of conflict prevention and peacebuilding from around the world. Founded in 2003, the network consists of fifteen regional networks of local organisations; each region having its own priorities, character and agenda. GPPAC members from around the world collaborate on issues of common interest. As part of its mission to work towards a shift from reaction to prevention of violent conflict, the network supports multiactor collaboration and advocates for local ownership of conflict prevention strategies. The network is coordinated by a Global Secretariat based in The Hague, The Netherlands. MAIN ACTIVITIES: GPPAC informs policy by connecting civil society with key decision makers at national, regional and global level. As a network of peacebuilders, we present civil society analysis of conflicts from a human security perspective, we generate knowledge and define collaborative mechanisms to prevent violent conflict. GPPAC builds capacity through learning exchanges on conflict prevention, involving civil society practitioners, state institutions, UN representatives, regional organisations and other key actors. We document lessons learned, develop resources and support trainings such as: - Conflict analysis - Dialogue and mediation - Peace and conflict resolution education - Gender-sensitive approaches - Civil-military relations GPPAC enables collaboration between civil society and other actors to analyse trends and improve long-term peacebuilding strategies, with the objective to foster joint action. We support organisations based in conflict-affected countries, and in politically sensitive contexts where official channels of communication and interaction are limited or absent. We enable and facilitate collaborative projects that aim to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace.