Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV)

What Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) does

The Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV; Institut für Friedenssicherungsrecht und Humanitäres Völkerrecht) is a nonprofit academic research institute established in 1992 and embedded within Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) in Germany, operating as the university's Chair for Public Law and International Law. Under Executive Director Prof. Dr. Pierre Thielbörger, the institute conducts interdisciplinary research on humanitarian crises, spanning public law, social science, geosciences, and public health. Following a late-2020 strategic restructuring, its research is organized into three clusters: Human Rights and Humanitarian Protection; Violent Disruptions and Forced Migration; and Humanitarian Governance and Management.

IFHV's outputs consist of three peer-reviewed academic journals (the bilingual Journal of International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict / JILPAC, Die Friedens-Warte in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für die Vereinten Nationen, and the Journal of Humanitarian Action / JIHA with Springer Nature), the bilingual legal newsletter Bofaxe (syndicated via Voelkerrechtsblog), the IFHV Working Papers series, the Bochumer Schriften book series, and the annual World Risk Report co-published with Bündnis Entwicklung hilft. On the educational side, the institute runs the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA) two-year Master program with more than 20 European and international partner universities — positioned as the leading humanitarian-action master in Europe — and the Academy on Humanitarian Action (AHA) for continuing professional education.

As a nonprofit academic unit, IFHV does not operate commercial pricing, has no disclosed revenue or external funding rounds, and is structurally reliant on RUB for institutional support, infrastructure, and academic framework. Distribution relies on academic publication channels, university infrastructure, the international NOHA partner network, and an owned media presence (newsletter, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn). The institute's competitive position rests on a 30+ year publication record, the NOHA university consortium, and cross-disciplinary expertise rather than on commercial go-to-market mechanics.

Name

Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV)

Legal name

Institut für Friedenssicherungsrecht und Humanitäres Völkerrecht (IFHV)

Website

https://ifhv.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IFHV is an academic research institute at Ruhr University Bochum that conducts interdisciplinary research on humanitarian crises across law, social science, geosciences, and public health, publishing peer-reviewed journals, the Bofaxe legal newsletter, the annual World Risk Report, and the NOHA Master program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research and Education in International Humanitarian Law

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAEAK

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYEDADALAG

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE)

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

SECONDARYEDADADAL

International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Policy, Research & Think Tanks

SECONDARYHLAJAKAN

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

Keywords

• Humanitarian law research
• International humanitarian action
• Humanitarian crises studies
• Human rights education
• Academic policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Bochum

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The IFHV conducts interdisciplinary academic research on international humanitarian law, human rights, and the governance of humanitarian crises, and delivers postgraduate education and training in these fields. Its tangible outputs include peer-reviewed journals (notably JILPAC), working papers, policy reports, congress proceedings, and structured degree programmes such as the NOHA Master in International Humanitarian Action and the Academy on Humanitarian Action. These offerings are aimed at academics, humanitarian practitioners, students, and policymakers.

Product overview

IFHV is an academic research institute offering a portfolio of scholarly publications and educational programs. The core offerings include three peer-reviewed academic journals (JILPAC, Die Friedens-Warte, and JIHA), a bilingual legal newsletter called Bofaxe, IFHV Working Papers, and a book series. On the educational side, the institute operates the Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA) Master program—a 2-year international degree conducted with over 20 partner universities—and the Academy on Humanitarian Action (AHA) for professional development. The institute also publishes the annual World Risk Report in partnership with Bündnis Entwicklung hilft.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Journal of International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (JILPAC): Bi-lingual peer-reviewed journal published by the institute
• Journal on International Peace and Organization (Die Friedens-Warte)
• Journal of Humanitarian Action (JIHA)
• Bofaxe
• IFHV Working Papers
• Bochumer Schriften zur Friedenssicherung und zum Humanitären Völkerrecht
• World Risk Report
• Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA)
• Academy on Humanitarian Action

Products and services

• NOHA Master in International Humanitarian Action

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ruhr University Bochum (RUB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFHV is an institute within Ruhr University Bochum, operating as the 'Chair for Public Law and International Law'. The university provides institutional support, infrastructure, and academic framework for the institute's research and teaching activities.
• NOHA (Network on Humanitarian Action) Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NOHA Master program is conducted with more than 20 European and international partner universities. This network is considered the leading master program in humanitarian action in Europe. The spokesperson role in research clusters rotates annually between senior researchers and PhD students.
• Bündnis Entwicklung hilftmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFHV co-publishes the annual World Risk Report together with Bündnis Entwicklung hilft (Development Aid alliance), contributing to global understanding of disaster and crisis risks.
• MailChimpminorOthersMailChimp is used as the newsletter service provider for IFHV's email marketing activities. An Auftragsverarbeitungsvertrag (AVV/data processing agreement) under GDPR Article 28 has been established with MailChimp.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): Independent research institute focused on conflict, armaments, and international security. Comparable to IFHV in publishing peer-reviewed research, policy reports, and books on peace and armed conflict topics for a global policy audience.
• Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID): Geneva-based academic institution combining international law, political science, and development studies with research centers on humanitarian affairs. Directly comparable to IFHV's interdisciplinary humanitarian-law research and graduate education model.
• University for Peace (UPEACE): UN-mandated university offering master's and doctoral programs in peace and conflict studies. Comparable in mission (peace/conflict education and research) and in operating a graduate program with international reach, though based in Costa Rica.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): UK-based think tank producing research and policy advice on humanitarian action, development, and forced migration. Comparable to IFHV in publishing influential reports and engaging policymakers, though more focused on development than legal analysis.
• Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI): University-based program conducting interdisciplinary research on humanitarian crises, rights, and policy. Directly comparable to IFHV in combining academic research, policy engagement, and graduate training focused on humanitarian action.
• Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP): Swiss foundation offering executive education and policy research on peace, security, and humanitarian action. Comparable to IFHV in combining research, training programs, and policy advisory work for international humanitarian and security professionals.
• Leiden University — Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies: Dutch university research center specializing in international law, including humanitarian law and human rights. Comparable to IFHV in producing peer-reviewed legal scholarship, working papers, and hosting graduate-level research on armed conflict and crisis.

Peers

• Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) — Research and Advocacy Unit:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ifhv_bochum
• Facebookfacebook.com/RUB.IFHV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ifhv

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV)