Interpeace is pleased to announce its partnership with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) on a new project entitled, "Supporting Constitution-making and Reform: A Cornerstone for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding."

800 pages of guidance

Interpeace has been engaged in constitution-making since 2006. Its most notable contribution to the field is the publication of the comprehensive handbook: Constitution-making and Reform: Options for the Process. The Handbook was developed through eight practitioner dialogues capturing experiences and lessons learned and drew upon more than 800 of pages of guidance prepared by leading experts in the field about how to design and implement constitution-making processes that are inclusive, transparent, participatory and nationally owned and led. The two-year UNDEF funded project will expand on this work and support Interpeace's continued efforts to promote peace and social cohesion through such processes in fragile and conflict-affected societies.

Building on the previous work

The project aims to improve access to technical assistance as well as create a forum for national and international actors on process dimensions of constitution-making and reform through an interactive portal on Interpeace's existing website, Constitution-making for Peace. The site, already home to the Handbook in English and Arabic, will provide enhanced access to training and resource materials, and provide a platform for experiential learning exchanges between international and national actors.

Since 1975, well over two hundred new constitutions have been made – most in response to a serious risk of violent conflict, or as a result of conflict. Interpeace's project will contribute to effective statebuilding and democratic governance as well as to laying the foundation for lasting peace.