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This Brief focuses on three themes related to the operationalisation of inclusiveness in peacebuilding. The first theme looks at the various practical obstacles to inclusiveness including, for instance, the resistance of governments, international donors and armed groups to include a wider range of actors. The second theme highlights the importance of so-called ‘untouchables’ – groups or individuals targeted by sanctions or anti-terror legislation, or ostracised through public stigmatisation.  The third theme touches on marginalised groups, such women and youth, as a distinct challenge for inclusive processes. In all three themes, the Brief draws on examples from Central America and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

This Brief offers an overview of the ways in which the concept of resilience has been used in a variety of settings. It critically assesses the merits of applying the term to issues of peacebuilding, before posing a series of exploratory questions that may contribute to further discussion. This Brief was written in preparation for the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform which focuses on the theme "Operationalizing Resilience in Peacebuilding Contexts: Approaches, Lessons, Action Points".

This Brief sets out the case and emergent priorities for a new action framework for conflict prevention in the context of large-scale business investment in conflict-affected and fragile environments. This action framework proposes a focus on the dispute resolution and prevention capacities of local actors on the ground, as well as on the respective roles of international actors – including but not limited to business – in strengthening them. The report also sets out action points in preparation for a retreat on the operationalization of the action framework from 7- 8 November 2012 in Switzerland.

This Brief focuses on the role of gangs and their diverse influences on youth, and the practical lessons of policies against youth gangs. Overall, the Brief underlines the need for a more holistic approach towards youth violence. It calls for a more systematic partnership between international, national, regional, local and municipal actors as a means of advancing coordinated policy and practice on this pressing issue for Central America and many other regions worldwide.

This Brief is a summary of a lunch-time seminar entitled “Governance for Peace: Strengthening Legitimate Politics, Securing the Social Contract” held on 20 April 2012 in Geneva. The Brief departs from the main findings of the UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) report entitled “Governance for Peace: Securing the Social Contract”, especially highlighting the needs for inclusive politics, responsive institutions, and resilient societies. The Brief also highlights that there is a need for a fresh dialogue between donors and national stakeholders including different levels of government and society, and that the Governance for Peace report lays the groundwork for a new framework for action that helps implement the New Deal.

This Brief summarise the discussions of a seminar on the conflict and fragility agenda after the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan. It highlights that the transformation of the "New Deal For Engagement in Fragile States" into concrete actions represents an opportunity to advance the conflict and fragility agenda. While current efforts have focused on donor-recipient relations, more attention must be given to the relationship between governments and their societies. What is more, the seminar underlined that the Busan follow on process can give important inputs into the emerging discussions about a new consensus towards a post-2015 sustainable development framework.

The 2012-2014 Programme sets out the new strategy of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform following a series of consultations between April and September 2011. Specifically, the Programme has the goal to advance new knowledge and practice in five focus themes, strengthen the networking of peacebuilding resources in Geneva and worldwide; and diversify funding sources.