Their Mission

The International Crisis Group is an independent organization working to prevent wars and shape policies that will build a more peaceful world. Crisis Group sounds the alarm to prevent deadly conflict. The organization builds support for good governance and inclusive politics that enable societies to flourish. It engages directly with a range of conflict actors to seek and share information and to encourage intelligent action for peace.

The work of Crisis Group is urgently needed as the world is confronted with both new and chronic existing conflicts, each of which has devastating humanitarian, social, and economic costs. Efforts to resolve conflicts are complicated by the profound shift in geopolitics, as well as the increasing prominence of non-state actors ranging from religious militants to criminal gangs.

In this more polarized, fragmented, and dangerous world, Crisis Group’s work points a way forward. War is not inevitable; it is a man-made disaster. The organization must mobilize political leaders to heed early warnings and take early action to avoid looming conflicts. More creative and flexible frameworks for international diplomacy must be built.

The consequences of inaction are too great:

- For the first time ever, the number of people displaced due to conflict and persecution surpassed 100 million in May 2022.

- War and civil strife drive most refugees from the top five source countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar.

- One third of Ukraine’s population has fled fighting since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Europe’s largest movement of people since World War II.

- An estimated 120,648 people were killed in conflicts in 2021.

Strategic Framework

Crisis Group aspires to be the preeminent organization providing independent analysis and advice on how to prevent, resolve, or better manage deadly conflict. The organization combines expert field research, analysis, and engagement with policymakers across the world in order to effect change in the crisis situations on which it works. Crisis Group endeavors to talk to all sides and, in doing so, builds on its role as a trusted source of field-centered information, fresh perspectives, and advice for conflict parties and external actors.

Crisis Group has more than twenty years of experience in working to prevent, manage, and resolve deadly conflict.

Field Research

The organization's expert analysts engage directly with all parties to a conflict as they conduct research on the ground, share multiple perspectives, and propose practical policy solutions.

Sharp Analysis

The organization publishes comprehensive reports and timely commentaries to inform decision-making and shape the public debate on how to limit threats to peace and security.

High-Level Advocacy

The organization works with heads of government, policymakers, media, civil society, and conflict actors themselves to sound the alarm of impending conflict and to open paths to peace.

In Darfur, for example, the International Crisis Group was ringing the alarm bell. They gave insight. The organization’s role is not to come into agreement but to reflect ground truth.