Program Details: Peaceful Change

From its initial days, Mercy Corps has sought to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities across the globe. Our Vision for Change, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is that peaceful, secure and just societies emerge when the private, public and civil society sectors are able to interact with accountability, inclusive participation and mechanisms for peaceful change.

Mercy Corps works in countries in transition, where communities are suffering and recovering from disaster, conflict or economic collapse. Our experience demonstrates that during these times of turmoil and tragedy, there also exists the possibility for positive change. We add our greatest value as an international relief and development agency on the ground by supporting those kernels of positive change with community-led and market-driven action.

As a further indication of our commitment to empowering peaceful communities, Mercy Corps merged with the Conflict Management Group (CMG) in 2004. CMG was established by Harvard University professor Roger Fisher, who in 1981, together with William Ury, published the groundbreaking
negotiations and conflict management text Getting to Yes. Never before had negotiation been seen as a process to achieve "win-win." Through CMG, Professor Fisher introduced the idea that both sides in any negotiation can come away feeling that they benefited from the process.

By blending CMG's vast experience in conflict negotiations theory and practice with Mercy Corps' deep global experience in empowering transitional communities, Mercy Corps has integrated and further developed CMG methodologies to impact our programming globally. Our current conflict management programming seeks to transform communities torn apart by conflict by channeling the energies and resources of local communities into productive rather than destructive activities.