What Conflict Dynamics International does

Conflict Dynamics International (CDI) is a US-based nonprofit organization founded in 2004 by Gerard McHugh and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with permanent field offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Khartoum (Sudan). It operates in two integrated practice areas: Peace Action, anchored by its Political Accommodation methodology, and Humanitarian Action, anchored by its Humanitarian Access methodology. It also maintains the CAC (Collective Accountability Commitments) Accountability Framework, an approach whose principles have informed institutional practice at the International Criminal Court and within United Nations processes. The organization was created to serve conflict-affected populations, humanitarian agencies, and governments negotiating access in active conflict environments.

CDI delivers its work through direct field programming — including country programs in Somalia and Sudan — and through partnerships with major humanitarian and academic institutions such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Save the Children International, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the World Food Programme, CERAH, and the Somalia NGO Consortium. In 2021, it expanded its footprint by launching the Humanitarian Negotiations Information Portal, a dedicated global resource for humanitarian negotiation practitioners, and by formalizing collaborations with Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and Save the Children International. Across its history it has maintained programmatic presence in approximately 30 countries since 2006.

As a nonprofit, CDI does not sell products or services; rather, it is funded through grants and donations from sovereign governments (including the Government of Switzerland, Australia DFAT, and Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs), foundations, and individual donors. Its revenue mechanics therefore depend on multi-year grant cycles, donor stewardship, and consortium-level program funding rather than on transactional pricing or commercial customer contracts.

Name

Conflict Dynamics International

Legal name

Conflict Dynamics International

Website

https://cdint.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Conflict Dynamics International is a US-based nonprofit founded in 2004 that develops and applies proprietary methodologies in political accommodation and humanitarian access to serve conflict-affected populations, humanitarian agencies, and governments across roughly 30 countries, with field offices in Kenya and Sudan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Government Grants: CDI receives funding from national governments, multilateral bodies, foundations, and individual donors. Donors include Australia DFAT, Denmark MFA, Canada DFAIT, EU, Germany FFO, Sweden Sida, Sweden MFA, Switzerland FDFA, UK DFID, UK FCO, USIP, Brookings, Cummings Foundation, Berghof Foundation, Humanity United, NED, and The World Bank.
2. Individual Donations: CDI accepts donations from individuals through its website. The organization offers GuideStar Seal of Transparency and is a Global Giving vetted and top-ranked charity. Donors can make financial contributions and can also use Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) to support CDI.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CDI is a nonprofit that delivers peacebuilding and humanitarian action services, providing conflict resolution, political dialogue, and humanitarian negotiation support to governments, armed groups, civil society, and humanitarian practitioners. It applies proprietary methodologies (Political Accommodation, Humanitarian Access, CAC Accountability) through training programs, workshops, consultations, country programs, and the Humanitarian Negotiations Information Portal to prevent violent conflict and alleviate human suffering.

Product overview

Conflict Dynamics International is a nonprofit organization that offers a portfolio of interconnected programs organized around two core areas: Peace Action and Humanitarian Action. The Peace Action programs include the Political Accommodation Methodology (a structured approach for dialogue and governance design), along with dedicated country programs for Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria. The Humanitarian Action programs encompass the Children in Armed Conflict Program (with its Accountability Framework and Anti-Impunity Tool) and the Humanitarian Engagement and Access Program, which includes the Humanitarian Negotiations Information Portal as a resource database. Supporting offerings include the Peace Pulse newsletter digest and the Women in Political Accommodation initiative. The organization does not offer technology products but rather delivers programs, methodologies, training, and publications for conflict resolution and humanitarian work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peace Action Program CDI's Peace Action program works to prevent violent conflict and build lasting peace by supporting political dialogue, reconciliation, and governance arrangements. It is delivered through dedicated country programs in Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria and is aimed at governments, political actors, and civil society in conflict-affected states.
• Humanitarian Action Program CDI's Humanitarian Action program improves humanitarian policy and practice, primarily through the Children in Armed Conflict Program and the Humanitarian Engagement and Access Program. It targets United Nations agencies, donor organizations, national governments, and nongovernmental organizations involved in directing humanitarian assistance and protection.
• Political Accommodation Methodology A practical collaborative approach and set of tools for building and sustaining peace. Provides structured frameworks for diverse groups to engage in dialogue on addressing exclusion and designing inclusive governance systems. Applied through interactive workshops, seminars, and bilateral meetings with governments, political actors, and civil society in conflict-affected contexts.
• Children in Armed Conflict Program Promotes timely and effective accountability for serious violations of international law committed against children in armed conflict. Includes the CAC Accountability Framework and Anti-Impunity Tool for investigating and prosecuting violations. Targets national judicial bodies, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, and child protection organizations.
• Humanitarian Engagement and Access Program Works to ensure effective access to people in conflict and crises and improve their ability to access needed services. Delivers on-site training, workshops, and methodology support to humanitarian practitioners and has provided direct support in 30 countries since 2006.
• Humanitarian Negotiations Information Portal A practitioner-driven database serving as a global repository of information and resources on humanitarian negotiations, including articles, case studies, reports, and normative provisions. Provides worldwide access to CDI's tools, methodologies, and training materials for humanitarian negotiators.
• Somali Program Supports reconciliation and dialogue in Somalia and Somaliland, working with federal and state governments, and supporting District Peace Committees for local conflict resolution. Has supported the establishment of over 20 District Peace Committees in Lower Juba, Bay, Bakool, Gedo, Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle, and Banadir.
• Sudan Program Supports Sudanese stakeholders to develop inclusive frameworks and systems for reconciling political interests for a peaceful and inclusive society during the transitional period. Includes workshops supporting young women leaders towards more effective political participation.
• South Sudan Program Supports South Sudanese to construct a 'House of Governance' that equitably serves everyone and provides a framework for sustainable peace. CDI has operated this program since 2008.
• Syria Program Supports Syrian actors to develop options for governance arrangements and political dialogue processes to reconcile competing political interests through research, consultations, and workshops. Includes examination of the role of decentralization in resolving the Syrian conflict.
• Women in Political Accommodation Enhances women's involvement in governance, political processes, and peacebuilding work across CDI's programs, with specific initiatives in South Sudan, Sudan, and Syria. Includes workshops supporting young women leaders in political participation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87 percent of surveyed CDI training participants continued to use the training's tools and methods in their own work
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2013, CDI has partnered with ICRC by facilitating content from CDI's humanitarian access training as part of ICRC's External Training program. This collaboration has enhanced ICRC's capacity to conduct humanitarian negotiations.
• Norwegian Refugee CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2013, CDI has partnered with NRC to increase the capacity of its field teams to improve access and negotiations in several operational contexts.
• UN World Food ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2013, CDI has partnered with WFP to increase the capacity of its field teams to improve access and negotiations in several operational contexts.
• Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2021, CDI began collaborating with HHI on the Strengthening Humanitarian Engagement Capacities of Practitioners project, a program supported by Save the Children International with funding from SIDA. CDI is developing and designing new tools and curricula based on years of experience.
• Geneva Centre for Education and Research in Humanitarian Action (CERAH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2013, CDI has partnered with CERAH by contributing to CERAH's humanitarian action curriculum, including through the facilitation of trainings. CDI is also co-developing a distance learning package with CERAH on humanitarian access in situations of armed conflict.
• Government of SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2009, CDI has partnered with the Government of Switzerland on the Humanitarian Access in Situations of Armed Conflict Initiative, including to co-develop (in consultation with ICRC and UN OCHA) a comprehensive methodological approach to improving humanitarian access.
• Save the Children InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeginning in July 2021, CDI and Save the Children International joined forces to strengthen the capacity of humanitarian practitioners to carry out effective humanitarian negotiations. Save the Children is offering a series of professional development workshops in select locations throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.
• UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDI partnered with UN OCHA in developing the comprehensive methodological approach to improving humanitarian access in consultation with ICRC and the Government of Switzerland.
• swisspeacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2015, CDI partnered with swisspeace and Farik Beirut to conduct research and produce a report on local peacebuilding efforts in Syria (Inside Syria).
• International NGO Safety Organization (INSO)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCDI is a member of INSO, an organization that establishes safety coordination platforms in insecure contexts.
• Somalia NGO ConsortiumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCDI is a member of the Somalia NGO Consortium, which promotes information sharing, cooperation, and joint advocacy initiatives among local and international NGOs working in Somalia and Somaliland.
• South Sudan NGO ForumminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCDI is a member of the South Sudan NGO Forum, an independent coordinating body of national and international NGOs that serves and facilitates the work of its members to address the humanitarian and development needs in South Sudan.
• Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (PILAC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCDI is a member of the CHE working group which is housed at Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (PILAC).
• Democratic Thought Project (DTP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2016-2019, CDI conducted a series of workshops with DTP and their Reading for Change initiative on options for youth participation in Sudan's governance and political processes.
• Taskforce for the Engagement of Women in SudanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2015-2017, CDI partnered with the Taskforce on a series of workshops, seminars, and consultation sessions to explore accommodating dialogue processes and governance arrangements in Sudan.
• Teeba PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2015-2018, CDI partnered with Teeba Press on a series of workshops and training materials on political accommodation in Sudan with media practitioners.
• Academy for Peace and Development (APD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDI has partnered with APD on a range of projects, including on a research project on options for the reform of the Guurti (upper house of parliament) of Somaliland.
• Somali Youth Development Network (SOYDEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDI has partnered with SOYDEN for over four years, including on supporting the establishment of over 20 district peace committees in Lower Juba, Bay, Bakool, Gedo, Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle, and Banadir.
• Centre for Peace and Development Studies (CPDS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDI has partnered with CPDS to conduct events and hold consultations over the years. An institute for interdisciplinary study, research, teaching and training, and public dialogue on conflict, peace, and development issues, CPDS is based at Juba University.
• Dr John Garang Memorial UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2013-2014, CDI partnered with JGMU to research and produce a briefing paper on how governance arrangements can produce peace in Jonglei State (Building the House of Governance in Jonglei State).
• Ebony Centre for Strategic StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDI has partnered with the Ebony Centre to conduct several events together.
• Relief & Rehabilitation Commission, Government of South SudanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDI has partnered with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission to conduct workshops on humanitarian access and negotiations in South Sudan.
• Local Administration Councils Unit (LACU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDI partnered with LACU to put on a workshop examining the role of decentralization in resolving the Syrian conflict.
• UN ESCWA's National Agenda for the Future of Syria (NAFS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDI partnered with NAFS to put on a workshop examining the role of decentralization in resolving the Syrian conflict.
• Global Child Protection Working Group (CPWG)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCDI is an associate member of the UNICEF-led global level forum for coordination and collaboration on child protection in humanitarian settings, housed within the Global Protection Cluster.
• La Coalición contra la vinculación de niños, niñas y jóvenes al conflicto armado en Colombia (COALICO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2015, COALICO partnered with CDI to launch a publication and deliver a workshop on CAC accountability in Colombia.
• Quilting for ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2015, Q4C partnered with CDI to support outreach activities on CAC accountability in Colombia.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Conciliation Resources: International NGO working with people in conflict to prevent violence and build sustainable peace, with focus on inclusive political dialogue. Closely comparable to CDI's political accommodation work.
• International Crisis Group: Global nonprofit that works to prevent wars and shape policy through field-based research and policy advocacy on conflict-affected states. Directly comparable to CDI's peace action and country program work in Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria.
• swisspeace: Swiss peace research and policy institute conducting applied research and supporting peacebuilding practice. Directly comparable; documented as a CDI partner on Syria research.
• Search for Common Ground: One of the largest dedicated peacebuilding NGOs, operating in conflict-affected countries to transform how communities and institutions handle conflict. Highly comparable to CDI's methodology-driven peace and humanitarian work.
• International Alert: London-based peacebuilding NGO working with people directly affected by conflict to build sustainable peace. Comparable mandate and operating model to CDI's peace action programming.

Broad incumbents

• Carter Center: NGO founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter that works to resolve conflicts and advance democracy and human rights globally. Comparable peace and governance mandate at significantly larger scale.
• United States Institute of Peace (USIP): U.S. government-funded institution working to prevent and resolve violent conflicts worldwide. Broader mandate and substantially larger scale than CDI, but overlapping in methodology development and conflict resolution training.

Emerging players

• International Peace Institute (IPI): Independent nonprofit working to strengthen conflict prevention and peacebuilding through policy analysis and stakeholder convening. Comparable mission around political settlement and UN engagement.
• Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI): University-based program conducting research and training on humanitarian action. Documented partner of CDI on the Strengthening Humanitarian Engagement Capacities of Practitioners project; comparable humanitarian access agenda.
• Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP): International foundation delivering education, training, and research on security policy, including humanitarian action. Comparable training design and Geneva-based institutional setting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cdint
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConflictDynamicsInternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conflict-dynamics-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Conflict Dynamics International