International Peace Institute

What International Peace Institute does

The International Peace Institute (IPI), founded in 1970 and headquartered in New York at 777 United Nations Plaza directly facing UN headquarters, is an independent non-profit think tank that strengthens inclusive multilateralism through policy research, convening, and strategic advising. Its primary constituents are the United Nations System (Secretariat, departments, agencies, and peacekeeping operations), UN Member State delegations, regional organizations such as the African Union and European Union, civil society actors, and to a lesser extent private sector entities engaged in peace and security work.

IPI's core offerings are anchored by the Peacekeeping Observatory research series, launched in 2014 in partnership with the French Ministry of the Armed Forces' Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS), which produces evidence-based analysis on UN peacekeeping operations, transitions, and protection of civilians. Supporting products include The Global Observatory online publication platform, a steady cadence of policy and issue briefs on Women, Peace and Security, climate-security linkages, and feminist foreign policy, The Negotiators Podcast produced with Foreign Policy and Doha Debates, and a portfolio of closed-door ambassador-level workshops convened alongside the UN Department of Peace Operations, DPPA, UNDP, DCO, McGill University's Max Bell School, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Stimson Center, and the Challenges Forum, as well as multiple permanent missions to the UN. The Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations serves as the institutional home for much of this work.

As a non-profit, IPI generates no commercial revenue; its funding mix comprises government grants (notably from the Netherlands and France), foundation support (the Gates Foundation contributed over $8.5 million between 2013 and 2019), and individual donations, with no disclosed financial figures in public materials. The organization has 11-50 employees drawn globally and experienced a significant leadership transition in 2020 when President and CEO Terje Rød-Larsen resigned amid Norwegian corruption investigations into his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Current research leadership is anchored by Director of Research Jenna Russo and Non-resident Senior Adviser Dirk Druet, a former UN Department of Peace Operations and DPPA policy planning staff member.

Name

International Peace Institute

Legal name

International Peace Institute

Website

https://ipinst.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Peace Institute is an independent, non-profit think tank founded in 1970 that provides policy research, convening, and strategic advising on multilateral peace and security to the United Nations system, member states, and regional organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Policy Research and Advisory

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Peace, Security Sector Reform & Stabilization Programs (BPADABAH), Security Diplomacy & Defense Cooperation (Arms Control, Counterterrorism) (BPAIAIAH)

Keywords

• International peace research
• Peace operations advising
• Multilateral policy analysis
• Global security research
• Conflict resolution policy

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The International Peace Institute is an independent, non-profit think tank that conducts policy research, convenes stakeholders, and provides strategic advising on multilateral peace and security issues. Its deliverables include evidence-based research outputs (policy briefs, issue briefs), ongoing programs such as the Peacekeeping Observatory, analytical content via The Global Observatory, and closed-door workshops for UN member states and regional organizations.

Product overview

The International Peace Institute (IPI) offers a portfolio of research and convening products focused on strengthening multilateral peace and security efforts. The core offerings include The Global Observatory publication platform for security analysis, the Peacekeeping Observatory research program in partnership with the French Ministry of Armed Forces, policy papers and issue briefs on topics like peacekeeping transitions and protection of civilians, and panel discussion events for policy dialogue. The organization operates primarily as a think tank providing recommendations to the UN system, member states, and civil society rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Global Observatory: Provides timely analysis on trends and issues related to global security.
• Peacekeeping Observatory
• The Negotiators Podcast
• Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations

Products and services

• Peacekeeping Observatory Evidence-based research program providing analysis and actionable recommendations to strengthen UN peacekeeping operations, run in partnership with the French Ministry of the Armed Forces' DGRIS; delivers annual workshops, research outputs, and convenings across multiple regions. The product targets UN member states, UN DPO/DPPA, regional organizations, troop- and police-contributing countries, and academic partners.
• The Global Observatory Online analytical and publication platform providing timely analysis on trends and issues related to global security; features expert contributors and regular articles covering peace operations, protection of civilians, climate-security, and other multilateral peace and security topics. Serves policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and the broader peace and security policy community.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• French Ministry of the Armed Forces - Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2014 supporting the Peacekeeping Observatory series. DGRIS funds annual research workshops and publication series examining emerging challenges in peace operations. The partnership has produced evidence-based research on topics including new technologies, asymmetric threat environments, and mission transitions.
• United Nations Department of Peace OperationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts workshops and produces joint research on peacekeeping operations, protection of civilians, and mission transitions. DPO participates in IPI's Peacekeeping Observatory workshops as a key stakeholder.
• McGill University's Max Bell School of Public PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research on peace operations and protection issues. Co-hosts workshops and collaborates on policy briefs examining peacekeeping challenges and solutions.
• Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish government agency collaborating with IPI on peace operations research. Jointly co-hosts workshops on protection and peace operations, contributing expertise on international peace and security training.
• Challenges Forum for Peace OperationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership dedicated to improving UN peace operations. Collaborates with IPI on research initiatives and workshops addressing contemporary peacekeeping challenges.
• Peace DirectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on workshop regarding peacekeeping operations and peacebuilding nexus, bringing local peacebuilding perspectives to policy discussions.
• Foreign Policy and Doha DebatescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProduces The Negotiators Podcast in partnership with Foreign Policy magazine and Doha Debates, reaching policy audiences globally with content on peace negotiations and mediation.
• Cairo International Center for Conflict ResolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on workshop examining the peace operations-peacebuilding nexus, contributing regional perspectives on conflict resolution in the Middle East and Africa.
• UN Development Coordination Office (DCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the UN Transitions Project, providing direct support to countries undergoing UN mission transitions and contributing to UN Secretariat guidance on transitions from 2014-2025.
• UN Development Program (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the UN Transitions Project, contributing to development of guidance on mission transitions and sustaining efforts on critical tasks such as protection of civilians through integrated planning with UN country teams.
• UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the UN Transitions Project and ongoing research on peace operations, with DPPA participating in IPI workshops and contributing to policy development.
• Stimson CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized workshop on UNMISS in the Context of Changing Security and Regional Dynamics, combining research capacities on African peace and security issues.
• Permanent Mission of Germany to the UNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted ambassador-level roundtable continuing strategic dialogue from the May 2025 Berlin Peacekeeping Ministerial on the future of peacekeeping.
• Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in multiple workshops on peacekeeping operations, including workshops on mission transitions and protection issues.
• Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized workshops on peacekeeping operations, bringing Nordic perspectives on peace and security policy.
• Permanent Mission of Canada to the UNminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in workshops on protection and peace operations, contributing to discussions on peacekeeping transitions and civilian protection.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Stimson Center: Stimson is one of IPI's most direct co-convening peers — confirmed in the data as the co-organizer of the UNMISS workshop. Both are Washington/US-based think tanks operating research programs on UN peace operations, protection of civilians, and South Sudan/Somalia security dynamics, with overlapping funder networks.
• International Crisis Group: Crisis Group is a globally focused conflict-prevention think tank that produces field-driven research and policy prescriptions on fragile states and peace operations — the same problem space IPI targets. Both rely on a mix of government and foundation grants and act as conveners of policymakers in conflict-affected contexts.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): USIP is a congressionally funded US institute that works directly on UN peace operations, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution. It overlaps significantly with IPI on policy advising to multilateral bodies and convening practitioners on protection of civilians and mission transitions.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Carnegie is a larger, established foreign-policy think tank with a global network of centers producing research across the full spectrum of international affairs, including conflict prevention, multilateralism, and UN reform — overlapping with IPI's peace-and-security themes, albeit at broader scope.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): Chatham House is a long-established London-based international affairs institute with a research portfolio touching on UN governance, conflict resolution, and multilateral cooperation. Comparable to IPI as a mission-driven think tank with convening power, though broader in scope and older in lineage.
• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): CSIS is a major bipartisan policy research organization covering international security, multilateral institutions, and defense policy. It competes with IPI for the same pool of government and foundation grants targeting peace, security, and UN-related issues.
• Brookings Institution: Brookings is a large US-based think tank whose Foreign Policy program regularly addresses UN reform, peace operations, and global governance — directly comparable to IPI's area but with a much larger staff and research footprint.

Emerging players

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): SIPRI is a Sweden-based research institute focused on peace and security, with overlapping coverage of UN peace operations, multilateral security cooperation, and arms control. Comparable to IPI on the UN-focused policy research dimension, with a stronger scientific research orientation.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): IISS is a London-based think tank that produces strategic analysis on armed conflict, multilateral security institutions, and peacekeeping. It overlaps with IPI on the policy and convening side, with a more defense-and-strategy focus.

Others

• Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA): FBA is a Swedish government agency explicitly identified in IPI's partnership data as a co-host of peace-operations workshops. While government-owned rather than an independent think tank, it is comparable in operating role — providing training, research, and convening for peace operations practitioners — and could shift into a more direct peer if it expands independent research output.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ipinst
• Facebookfacebook.com/IPInst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipinst
• Instagraminstagram.com/ipinst
• Xx.com/ipinst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Peace Institute