Complex crises require integrated solutions. The Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus aims to connect humanitarian, development, and peace work. However, the “peace pillar” often remains underutilised. Berghof Foundation’s experiences show that strengthening local conflict sensitivity (“small p”) while strategically linking to broader peace initiatives (“Big P”) enhances social cohesion, supports local ownership, and maximizes long-term impact. Partnerships between humanitarian, development, and peace actors are key to ensuring that peace efforts are effectively embedded into programmes on the ground.

Despite progress, challenges remain. In the nexus debate, a distinction is made between “small p” peace – including conflict sensitivity, social cohesion, and local peacebuilding – and “Big P” peace, which includes more politically sensitive peace support programming such as mediation support, support for peace negotioations and security sector reform. Berghof’s work highlights that leveraging this complementarity also means recognising that some of the most significant peacebuilding impacts can be achieved at the meso level. That is below sometimes blocked and politicised national-level peace processes, but above community level programming – where gains in social cohesion, for instance, can fall prey to renewed escalation linked to higher-level dynamics.

Better connecting such work to development and humanitarian interventions by coordinating programmes around a strategic focus on peace in conflict-affected contexts can strengthen the nexus programming. This can help conflict parties and local communities turn agreements on contentious issues into tangible outcomes.

Further information can be found on the Berghof Foundation website here.