Konsortium Ziviler Friedensdienst

What Konsortium Ziviler Friedensdienst does

Konsortium Ziviler Friedensdienst (ZFD), branded in English as the Civil Peace Service (CPS), is a German government-funded peacebuilding program established in 1999 and operated by a consortium of nine German peace and development organizations: Aktionsgemeinschaft Dienst für den Frieden (AGDF, the host entity registered in Bonn), AGIAMONDO, Brot für die Welt, EIRENE Internationaler Christlicher Friedensdienst, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), KURVE Wustrow, peace brigades international (pbi), Pro Peace, Weltfriedensdienst (WFD), and forumZFD. The program deploys approximately 380 international peace workers (Fachkräfte) into roughly 580-600 local partner organizations across approximately 45 countries, providing long-term (typically 2+ years) in-situ support for violence prevention, non-violent conflict resolution, trauma support, memory and commemoration work, environmental peacebuilding, peace education, and protection of human rights defenders.

There is no proprietary technology platform; the "product" is a methodology-centered service delivery model combining qualitative peacebuilding techniques such as Environmental Peacebuilding, the Empathy Network model, Justice Reporters / narrative therapy, and Forum Theatre. The organization supplements field deployment with a portfolio of dissemination assets including a project database, multilingual publications and pedagogical materials, infographics, a travelling exhibition, a qualification programme, and the podcast series "Jetzt mal ganz friedlich." Documented impact includes securing titles to roughly 110,000 hectares of communal pastoralist land in Uganda, reaching over 2,000 people in the first year of the Empathy Ukraine project, and documenting 150+ survivor stories through Justice Reporters across 18 districts of Nepal.

The ZFD is fully funded by the German Federal Government through the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), with a 2024 program budget of approximately €60 million and an additional €21 million from the Sonderinitiative Geflüchtete und Aufnahmeländer (BMZ Special Initiative on Refugees and Host Countries). The initial 1999 budget was €1.4 million. There is no commercial revenue; no products or services are sold to beneficiaries, and partner organizations receive capacity support at no cost. The consortium is governed via its host organization AGDF (registered association at Amtsgericht Bonn), with a small Bonn-based secretariat (7 employees) acting as the public-facing and administrative entity for the broader consortium.

Name

Konsortium Ziviler Friedensdienst

Legal name

Aktionsgemeinschaft Dienst für den Frieden e.V.

Website

https://ziviler-friedensdienst.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Konsortium Ziviler Friedensdienst (ZFD / Civil Peace Service) is a German government-funded peacebuilding consortium of nine NGOs that deploys around 380 international peace workers to roughly 600 local partner organizations across approximately 45 countries, delivering civilian conflict transformation, violence prevention, and trauma support funded entirely by BMZ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Peace, Security Sector Reform & Stabilization Programs (BPADABAH)

Keywords

• Civilian peace service
• Conflict transformation
• Violence prevention
• Peacebuilding services
• Civil society capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. German Government Funding (BMZ): The ZFD is fully funded by the German Federal Government through the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ). As of 2024, the annual budget is approximately 60 million euros. An additional ~21 million euros came from the Special Initiative on Refugees and Host Countries in 2024. The program was established in 1999 with an initial budget of 1.4 million euros.
2. Member Organization Contributions: Nine German peace and development organizations jointly implement the ZFD, each contributing organizational capacity, staff, and expertise. These include AGDF, AGIAMONDO, Brot für die Welt, EIRENE, forumZFD, GIZ, KURVE Wustrow, peace brigades international, and WFD.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Zivile Friedensdienst (ZFD) is a program for violence prevention, civil conflict transformation, and peacebuilding. Nine German peace and development organizations jointly deploy approximately 380 international peace workers to support roughly 600 local partner organizations across about 45 countries, providing long-term (typically 2+ year) capacity building, non-violent conflict resolution training, trauma support, environmental peacebuilding, and remembrance work.

Product overview

The Konsortium Ziviler Friedensdienst operates the ZFD (Civil Peace Service) as its core programme - a unified platform for violence prevention, civil conflict transformation and peacebuilding. The consortium comprises nine German peace and development organisations. The offering includes the main programme, a searchable project database, publications and pedagogical materials, qualification programmes for peace workers, a podcast series, travelling exhibitions, and infographics. These components work together to provide comprehensive peacebuilding resources, training, and field implementation across approximately 45 countries with around 380 international peace workers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ziviler Friedensdienst (ZFD) - Civil Peace Service Program Government-funded program for violence prevention, civil conflict transformation and peacebuilding. Nine German peace and development organizations jointly deploy approximately 380 international peace workers into about 600 local partner organizations across roughly 45 countries, providing long-term (typically 2+ years) capacity building, non-violent conflict resolution training, trauma support, environmental peacebuilding, and remembrance work.
• Project Database (Projektsuche)

Quantifiable outcome

• 110,000 hectares of communal land secured and protected from land grabbing in Uganda
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core implementing partner and core consortium member - founding partner.

• Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC)core implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022CCC is the largest civil society umbrella organization in Cambodia with 186 member organizations. Supported by ZFD (Brot für die Welt) since 2022. A ZFD peace worker supports CCC in strengthening a societal culture of peace.
• Empathy Ukraine Networkcore implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Empathy Ukraine Network provides emotional support to Ukrainians through empathy circles, individual sessions, and peer support. Now supported by ZFD (Pro Peace and forumZFD).
• War Childhood Museumcore implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018The War Childhood Museum documents childhood experiences in conflict zones. In Ukraine, the museum partnered with forumZFD to document children's experiences of the war, with an exhibition in Kyiv in 2024.
• Land Desk Moroto, Catholic Diocese of Moroto (Uganda)core implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017A ZFD partner (via AGIAMONDO) that secured land rights for approximately 110,000 hectares of communal land for indigenous pastoralist communities in Karamoja, Uganda. Awarded the AGIAMONDO Engagementpreis 2024.
• Children Peace Initiative (CPI) Kenyacore implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014CPI Kenya is a ZFD partner (via Weltfriedensdienst) working to reduce inter-ethnic conflict between Ilchamus and Pokot communities through peace camps for children and cross-community cooperation programs.
• Mandala Theatre (Nepal)core implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Mandala Theatre in Kathmandu is a ZFD partner (via AGIAMONDO) using theatre and participatory methods for peacebuilding and social change in Nepal since 2014.
• ALUNA (Mexico)core implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014ALUNA provides psychosocial support to human rights defenders in Mexico facing threats and violence, a key ZFD partner working on protection and resilience.
• YWCA-DRC (Young Women's Christian Association DR Congo)core implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014A 104-member ZFD partner organization providing training, psychosocial and legal support to women and girls affected by gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Bana Group for Peace and Development (Sudan)core implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014A feminist peace organization and ZFD partner (via KURVE Wustrow) producing documentaries on the Sudan conflict and providing humanitarian and psychosocial support to women and civilians.
• The Story Kitchen (Nepal)core implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014The Story Kitchen is a ZFD partner (via GIZ) training women survivors of Nepal's civil war as 'Justice Reporters' to document and share stories using narrative therapy and audio journalism.
• Eco Peace Middle Eastcore implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Eco Peace Middle East is a regional environmental peacebuilding organization working with communities sharing natural resources. ZFD partner via AGIAMONDO in Jordan.
• Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR) Serbiacore implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014YIHR Serbia is a long-standing ZFD partner (via forumZFD) working on human rights, remembrance culture, and reconciliation in the Western Balkans. Awarded the Aachener Friedenspreis 2024.
• Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC)core implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014PCRC is a ZFD partner (via AGIAMONDO) working on remembrance, dialogue, and critical thinking in Bosnia and Herzegovina for 15 years.
• Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanaocore implementing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Mindanao State University partnered with ZFD to develop a degree program in 'Peace Education and Conflict Transformation' on the Philippines, with an online Master's program launched in 2023.
• Aktionsgemeinschaft Dienst für den Frieden (AGDF)core consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999AGDF is the host organization of the ZFD consortium, providing the administrative headquarters in Bonn. It is one of nine German peace and development organizations implementing the ZFD program.
• AGIAMONDOcore consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999AGIAMONDO is one of nine German organizations in the ZFD consortium. It deploys international peace workers and supports partner organizations, particularly in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
• Brot für die Weltcore consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World) is one of nine German organizations in the ZFD consortium, supporting partner organizations in Africa and Asia with funding and expertise.
• EIRENE Internationaler Christlicher Friedensdienstcore consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999EIRENE is one of nine German organizations in the ZFD consortium. It operates peace and development programs and produces podcasts on peacebuilding topics.
• Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)core consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999GIZ is one of nine German organizations in the ZFD consortium and one of the largest implementing organizations, deploying peace workers through its international development operations.
• KURVE Wustrow – Bildungs- und Begegnungsstätte für gewaltfreie Aktioncore consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999KURVE Wustrow is one of nine German organizations in the ZFD consortium, specializing in non-violent action education and peacebuilding training.
• peace brigades international (pbi)core consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999pbi is one of nine German organizations in the ZFD consortium, providing protective accompaniment to human rights defenders and supporting peace processes internationally.
• Pro Peacecore consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Pro Peace is one of nine German organizations in the ZFD consortium. It implements peacebuilding projects including the Empathy Ukraine initiative.
• Weltfriedensdienst (WFD)core consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999WFD (World Peace Service) is one of nine German organizations in the ZFD consortium, implementing peace and development projects globally.
• forumZFD (Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst)core consortium member - founding partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999forumZFD is one of nine German organizations in the ZFD consortium, specializing in conflict transformation and remembrance work. It operates in the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and other regions.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Search for Common Ground: Search for Common Ground is one of the largest international NGOs dedicated exclusively to conflict transformation, operating in 30+ countries with similar methodologies (dialogue, media for peace, inclusive peace processes). Directly comparable in mission and beneficiary populations.
• Berghof Foundation: Berghof Foundation is a German non-profit specializing in conflict transformation research and practice. It provides training, mediation support, and advice to conflict parties, with strong methodological overlap to the ZFD's approach.
• Peace Direct: Peace Direct is a UK-based peacebuilding NGO that funds and partners with local peacebuilders in conflict-affected countries. It shares the ZFD's emphasis on local partner empowerment and locally-led peacebuilding.
• International Alert: International Alert is a UK-based peacebuilding NGO working on security, governance, and conflict resolution across ~20 countries. It shares the ZFD's focus on civil society-driven conflict transformation and policy advocacy.
• Conciliation Resources: Conciliation Resources is an international NGO working on peacebuilding, dialogue, and inclusion in conflict-affected societies. It is directly comparable in methodology (track-II diplomacy, inclusive peace processes) and beneficiary populations.
• Swisspeace: Swisspeace is a Swiss peace research and practice institute working on civil conflict transformation, peace policy, and training. It is structurally analogous to a ZFD-style government-funded consortium delivering peacebuilding services across multiple conflict-affected countries.
• forumZFD (Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst): forumZFD is itself one of the nine consortium members, specializing in conflict transformation and remembrance work in the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and other regions. It is a direct peer implementing comparable civilian peace service programming with overlapping methodologies and target geographies.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): GIZ is a consortium member and the German government's primary international development agency. While it operates at much larger scale and across broader development areas, it deploys peace workers through the ZFD framework and shares the same BMZ funder and conflict-affected country portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a large international humanitarian and development NGO operating in 40+ conflict-affected countries. While broader than ZFD in mandate (it spans livelihoods, health, and emergency response), it has comparable peace and conflict programming and similar donor-dependent funding model.
• International Crisis Group: International Crisis Group is a major global conflict-prevention think tank producing research and policy advice on 70+ conflicts. It addresses the same root issues as ZFD (conflict drivers, prevention, peacebuilding) but from a research/advocacy rather than field-implementation angle.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/zfdnews.bsky.social
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZivilerFriedensdienst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/konsortium-ziviler-friedensdienst
• Instagraminstagram.com/ziviler_friedensdienst

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Konsortium Ziviler Friedensdienst