Skip to main content

Sharing the Learning

A Review of Lessons Learned by the International Fund for Ireland
(1986-2018)

There are many ways to be a peace builder. Peace building is based on knowledge, skills, and attitudes that can be learned. As such, everyone can be a peace builder. But it is a conscious choice that involves making decisions and taking actions that require effort.1

Background

The International Fund for Ireland (IFI) leads, enables, and supports peacebuilding in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. Through its funded programmes and the relationships it develops, the IFI fosters capacity, skills, and attitudes among citizens and communities that aim to protect and enhance peace in the region. Established in 1986 as part of an international treaty between the governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland, the IFI delivers funding and support on behalf of the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to develop economic and social opportunities for people affected by the conflict on both sides of the border.

Through this work, the IFI has encouraged and enabled safe and constructive relationship building between communities and individuals that historically have had little contact, and those who might otherwise be at risk of alienation from the peace process, or vulnerable to manipulation and violence.

Over this period, the IFI has developed insights into what effective and sustainable peacebuilding looks like. The IFI is keen to share this learning: this resource has been developed with that goal in mind.

Find Out More

Need for the IFI

The human cost of the Troubles, and the consequent need for tailored support to enable society to recover and move forward, has been enormous: experience is showing that the dynamics of the conflict have given rise to complex issues that, in some cases, have taken decades to fully manifest in society. The work to identify, engage with, and attempt to resolve these challenges is ongoing today.

In the 1980s, social and economic development were severely impaired by the violence and disruption of the conflict. In addition to the significant loss of life and injury, physical, social, and economic infrastructure was seriously damaged. Many towns and villages suffered urban decay due to lack of investment and frequent bomb damage. Communities were locked in vicious cycles where social and economic disadvantage seemed to be both caused by and further fuel instability, political conflict, and, in turn, greater disadvantage.

For the leaders who established the IFI, the correlation between segregation, poverty, and violence seemed clear. The priority objective of the IFI was to deliver programmes that would create the conditions for economic development; it was anticipated that improving economic opportunities would in turn enable improved cross-community relationships and support peace.

  • 1

    United States Institute for Peace (USIP). (2011) Peacebuilding Toolkit for Educators: High School Edition. Washington, D.C.: USIP. (Page 8) (Available online at: https://www.usip.org/public-education/educators/peacebuilding-toolkit-educators) (Accessed 4 September 2018)

  • 2

    Paffenholz, T. (2014) International peacebuilding goes local: analysing Lederach's conflict transformation theory and its ambivalent encounter with 20 years of practice. Peacebuilding. 2 (1), 11-27.

  • 3

    See: Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the International Fund for Ireland. (Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty, October 1986.) (London: HM Stationery Office) [Available on request from International Fund for Ireland]

  • 4

    This is not the first time that the IFI has reflected on its lessons learned: the organisation has previously published a summary paper on this theme (See: International Fund for Ireland. (2009) Effective Peace Building: The International Fund for Ireland Experience. [Available online at:

Back to top