A framework for action

Measuring peace

The peacemaking ecosystem has longed lacked a unified framework for action and a benchmark for measuring peace engagements, similar to OCHA’s Humanitarian Principles and the Sphere Standards in the humanitarian field and the OHCHR’s Universal Periodic Review for human rights. 

To fill this gap, the Principles for Peace has developed methods to measure peace engagements, including diagnostic tools such as the Feedback Loop and the Participatory Periodic Reviews for Peace (PPRP). 

Supported by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), these mechanisms serve as a country-specific framework for action, accountability, and peace measurement.

They enable our partners to demonstrate the effectiveness of their peace engagements and make real-time course corrections based on evidence and perceptions, while also allowing stakeholders and their supporters to measure the impact and assess the return on their investments in peace.

A THREE-TIERED METHODOLOGY

The Feedback Loop

tier 1

Country-level peace monitoring

Tier 1 monitors country-level trends in peace, conflict and socioeconomic dynamics using the eight Principles for Peace. This tier provides an analysis of macro-level patters within a country’s peace process, drawing on existing data to generate actionable insights and guidance for policymakers and practitioners.

tier 2

National-Level Feedback and Peace Actor Monitoring

Tier 2 combines the Participatory Periodic Review for Peace (PPRP) with monitoring of peace actors and their actions at the national level. Through the PPRP, we engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders – including traditionally marginalized voices – to review and enhance the quality and legitimacy of peace processes through inclusive dialogues and shared metrics for progress.  

Simultaneously, Tier 2 monitors key peace actors and evaluates their peace-promoting actions to ensure alignment with the Principles for Peace. This tier adopts an ecosystem approach to encourage coherence among national and international entities, serving as a structured accountability mechanism that supports collaborative efforts and ongoing improvements in peace efforts.

tier 3

Closing the Feedback Loop and Assessing Effectiveness

Tier 3 focuses on gathering and analyzing feedback from diverse societal stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of peace engagements. This tier identifies specific, actionable steps that stakeholders can take to address priority issues, enabling continuous course correction to align the peace process with its objectives. By closing the feedback loop, Tier 3 enhances the impact and sustainability of peace efforts, ensuring that lessons learned directly inform and improve future actions.

measuring peace