Event Report: Peace In Pieces, catalysing smart approaches to conflict resolution. A conversation with the private sector.
24/02/2025
At last week’s 61st edition of the Munich Security Conference, the European Institute of Peace, together with APCO Worldwide, hosted the private side event “Peace in Pieces, Whatever Happened to Smart Approaches to Peace and Security?”. This high-level roundtable brought together peace practitioners, representatives of international organisations and from the business world to discuss the role of the private sector in building and maintaining peace, exploring the complex intersection of business and conflict resolution.
Among the participants were Helga Maria Schmid, Former Secretary-General of the OSCE and the Institute’s Board President; Michael Keating, the Institute’s Executive Director; Brad Staples, CEO of APCO Worldwide; Comfort Ero, President and CEO of International Crisis Group; Stephen B Heintz, President and CEO of Rockefeller Brothers Fund; and Lord Edward Young, Global Chairman of APCO Family Office.
While the importance of engaging with governments remains crucial to conflict resolution, businesses—from multinational corporations to local enterprises—are increasingly shaping the peace and security landscape, not just as external observers but as active participants. Through their financial investments, influence, and presence in fragile contexts, private sector actors have the potential to support long-term peace.
However, this can also come with complex risks – from the threat of sanctions and geopolitical pressure to that of corporate involvement triggering conflicts for resources. The conversation touched upon the necessities of establishing an international framework to guide corporate involvement in conflict resolution and of engaging businesses in structured dialogues with governments, conflict resolution organisations and civil society to foster sustainable peace initiatives.
The private sector holds undeniable untapped potential as a partner in conflict prevention and resolution, but its engagement must be guided by clear principles and accountability measures, by fostering strategic alliances and implementing structured frameworks.
Conflict prevention and conflict resolution actors could start this engagement by selecting a context in which they are already familiar and exploring the manner in which they can involve the private sector in the work. The main challenge is developing the right mechanisms to integrate corporate actors effectively without compromising ethical and geopolitical considerations.
All pictures ©MSC Photographer