Ending war: The need for peace process support strategies

The foundations for sustainable peace are laid when those in conflict agree on how to resolve the issues that have divided them and how they will live together peacefully in the future. While external actors can play a decisive role in providing constructive support, too often mixed or contradictory policies undermine the prospects for conflict resolution. This brief argues that external actors should give greater priority to supporting peace processes, placing them at the centre of a shared international strategy for countries in conflict.