Pro Peace

What Pro Peace does

Pro Peace (legally Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e.V.), founded in February 1996 in Cologne, Germany, is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) that designs and implements civil peacebuilding projects, peace education programs, and advocacy campaigns in conflict-affected regions. Originally established in response to the wars in the former Yugoslavia, the organization has progressively expanded its geographic footprint over nearly three decades and now operates in 13 countries across the Western Balkans (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia), Eastern Europe (Ukraine), the Middle East (Lebanon, Iraq, Israel & Palestine, Jordan), and Southeast Asia (Philippines, Cambodia). The organization rebranded from Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst (forumZFD) to Pro Peace in 2024 following a structured reflection process.

The organization delivers an integrated portfolio of peacebuilding services. Its core operational pillars include: (1) the Academy for Conflict Transformation, which has trained peace specialists for over 25 years and offers both in-person and online courses (including thematic seminars on Climate-Sensitive Peacebuilding and the Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus); (2) deployment of peace consultants internationally and within Germany; (3) local conflict counselling in Germany; (4) public education and lobbying campaigns for civil conflict resolution; and (5) a publications program producing annual reports and research materials. The model is community-led: Pro Peace partners with local civil society organizations, grassroots groups, and educational institutions (e.g., Ateneo de Davao University, Buddhist University Battambang, Catholic Diocese of Battambang) to co-design and implement programs. With 174 employees worldwide and 11+ field offices, the organization maintains substantial in-region presence in active and post-conflict zones.

Pro Peace is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) governed by its members, with no external parent, equity backers, or commercial shareholders. It operates on a grant-funded revenue model: the largest share of its €13.7 million 2024 expenditure came from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), and the European Commission. Private donations and membership fees contribute approximately 8% of total funding, channeled through its GLS Gemeinschaftsbank account. Approximately 87% of every euro spent is directed to peace projects, with only ~7% allocated to administration. The Stiftung Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst, a separate foundation established in 2014, provides long-term financial support, and a wholly-owned subsidiary (Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst GmbH) manages the Friedenshaus property. All services to beneficiaries are provided free of charge.

Name

Pro Peace

Legal name

Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e.V.

Website

https://propeace.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pro Peace is a German non-governmental organization (founded 1996) that implements civil peacebuilding projects, peace education, and advocacy campaigns in 13 conflict-affected countries. It serves local civil society, communities, and educators through a 174-person field team, Academy training program, and €13.7M annual grant-funded budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (81331), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAFAL

Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Peacekeeping, Conflict Resolution & Security Cooperation

SECONDARYBPADAEAK

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming

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

SECONDARYBPADABAG

Democracy, Human Rights & Governance Assistance

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Bilateral Development Agencies & Aid Programs

Keywords

• Civil peacebuilding services
• Conflict transformation training
• Peace education programs
• Nonviolent conflict resolution
• Peace consultancy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Primary revenue stream from government sources, particularly the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), and the European Commission. These public donors represent the largest share of funding.
2. Private Donations and Membership Fees: Private donations and membership fees from individuals and organizations, representing approximately 8% of total revenue. The organization receives donations through its GLS Gemeinschaftsbank eG account and maintains a donor communication program.
3. Foundation Support: Funding and support from the Stiftung Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst (Forum Civil Peace Service Foundation), which was established in 2014 to provide long-term support for peace work.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pro Peace (formerly Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst / forumZFD) is a non-governmental organization that implements civil peacebuilding projects and conflict transformation programs in 13 countries. The organization deploys trained peace consultants to conflict-affected regions, runs an Academy for Conflict Transformation for capacity building, operates a Germany Programme providing local conflict counselling, and conducts public education and advocacy campaigns on nonviolent conflict resolution.

Product overview

Pro Peace (formerly Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst / forumZFD) is a peace organisation offering an integrated portfolio of peacebuilding services. The core offerings include: the Academy for Conflict Transformation (training specialists in peace work since 1997), deployment of international peace consultants, local conflict counselling in Germany, public education and advocacy campaigns, and published materials including annual reports. The organisation also operates a Foundation for long-term funding support and a Complaints Portal for reporting misconduct. All services are interconnected through the mission of promoting non-violent conflict transformation worldwide, with programme offices active in 13 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academy for Conflict Transformation
• International Peace Consultancy and Deployment
• Local Conflict Counselling (Germany Programme)
• Public Education and Advocacy Campaigns

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of funds invested directly in peace projects
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GIZ-CPS (Civil Peace Service consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Pro Peace partners with GIZ-CPS in joint Civil Peace Service programs funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The partnership expanded in 2014 due to the Syrian crisis, with both organizations working independently within a joint country strategy for Lebanon.
• Konsortium Ziviler Friedensdienst (ZFD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro Peace is a member of the Civil Peace Service consortium (ZFD), which brings together nine German peace and development organizations. Currently, more than 300 international ZFD peace experts work in 44 countries.
• AGdD (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Entwicklungsdienste)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPro Peace participates in the AGdD, the umbrella organization for the seven recognized development service providers in Germany, benefiting from their support services for returning peace experts.
• Nonviolent PeaceforceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational peace organization that deploys civilian peacekeepers to conflict zones. Pro Peace collaborates on shared peacebuilding objectives and advocacy for non-violent conflict resolution.
• Ziviler FriedensdienstcoreOthersCivil Peace Service network that Pro Peace was instrumental in establishing and continues to advocate for, promoting civilian alternatives to military conflict resolution.
• Plattform Zivile KonfliktbearbeitungminorOthersOpen network in Germany for the promotion of civil conflict management. Founded in 1998 in Bad Honnef, advocating for NGO engagement in peaceful conflict resolution.
• Initiative Transparente ZivilgesellschaftminorOthersPro Peace has been a signatory since 2010, committing to transparency standards including publishing organizational information, finances, and governance details.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): Germany's main federal development agency and a Core partner of Pro Peace via the GIZ-CPS consortium. Operates in the same funding ecosystem with a much wider development mandate.
• CARE International: Large humanitarian and development INGO that increasingly integrates peace and conflict-sensitivity into programming across overlapping geographies with Pro Peace.

Direct peers

• International Alert: UK-based peacebuilding NGO working on security policy and peace programming in conflict-affected countries. Highly comparable in mission, peace education, and 'dealing with the past' style programming.
• Search for Common Ground: One of the largest dedicated peacebuilding NGOs globally, implementing conflict transformation programs across dozens of countries. Directly comparable in mission, multi-country field model and civil-society partnership approach.
• Conciliation Resources: International peacebuilding NGO focused on dialogue, mediation and dealing with the past in conflict-affected societies — directly overlapping Pro Peace's 'Dealing with the Past' and community dialogue programming.
• Peace Direct: INGO that partners with local peacebuilders in conflict-affected countries, closely matching Pro Peace's partner-led, community-driven GTM motion.
• Nonviolent Peaceforce: International NGO deploying civilian peacekeepers and conducting unarmed civilian protection in conflict zones. Directly comparable to Pro Peace's civilian peace work, and the two organizations are explicitly listed as collaborators.
• Berghof Foundation: German peace research and peacebuilding foundation with field programs in conflict transformation. Closely comparable to Pro Peace's Academy model, German institutional base, and civil peace service programming.
• swisspeace: Swiss peace research and practice organization operating in conflict transformation, similar to Pro Peace's blend of applied fieldwork, training and policy advisory.

Emerging players

• International Crisis Group: Global conflict-analysis and policy advisory organization working in many of the same geographies as Pro Peace (Ukraine, Western Balkans, Middle East, Southeast Asia).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbewegung.social/@propeace
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@propeace_ngo
• Facebookfacebook.com/propeace.ngo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/propeace-ngo
• Instagraminstagram.com/propeace_ngo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Pro Peace