Founded in 1982, Search for Common Ground is the world’s largest dedicated peacebuilding organization. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018, Search seeks to prevent and end violence by helping divided people trust each other, collaborate on shared challenges, and make breakthroughs for peace through the organization’s core methodology: The Common Ground Approach.

Search for Common Ground is a locally-led, global peacebuilding organization, working in 33 countries. Search helps people find local solutions to today’s toughest violent conflicts — and save millions of lives in the process.

Examples of Search’s work include the following: In Burundi, Search’s radio production house, Studio Ijambo, established a rare platform for dialogue between Hutus and Tutsi when the country was on the brink of genocide. This work has been credited by community members and diplomats for helping avert mass atrocities in Burundi. In Yemen, Search is training thousands of women and young people to become local mediators. Today, while the war is still ongoing, these mediators are negotiating local solutions on issues such as access to clean water or combatting domestic violence.

The first line of Search for Common Ground’s mission is “End violent conflict. It’s our purpose — our call to action.” Preemptive Love’s first core value says, “We’re not just aid workers. We are peacemakers.” Our organizations are serious about transforming violent conflict into peace and are excited to make progress on this issue together.

The established history and experience of Search, paired with Preemptive Love’s rapid response capabilities and community development experience, could greatly expand both organizations’ ability to positively affect the communities where we work. Search for Common Ground is in a period of accelerated growth, and the merger will bolster the longevity and impact of both organizations.

In 2022, Search for Common Ground reached over 27,000,000 people through their programming, across 11 conflict regions, and 33 countries. Here are some of their programmatic highlights from last year:

• With the support of the US State Department’s Secretary’s Office on Global Women’s Issues, Search launched a global Women, Peace, and Security Rapid Response Fund to support a diverse range of women-led or women-serving initiatives globally. The Fund welcomes proposals that involve women in political negotiations or teach essential skills, allowing civic actors to apply for up to $250,000 in funding.
• Search is playing a leading role in creating a positive future for all Afghan people. Fifteen months after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, hope still flickers. Many organizations have been unable to work in the country, and Search’s office has become a staging ground for Afghan civil society organizations working to rebuild Afghan civil society.
• In collaboration with over 30 leading organizations around the world, Search launched the Peace Impact Framework. This Framework will further professionalize the peacebuilding field and develop the entire peacebuilding sector’s understanding of impact. We’re tracking this data across five key societal vital signs: Polarization, Personal Agency, Resource Investment, Institutional Legitimacy, and Physical Violence.
• Search’s 2022 Impact Report will be published in March, 2023.

Preemptive Love serves communities in Afghanistan, Middle East, Latin America, and the US. Peace underpins thriving communities. More than the absence of conflict, peace is the absence of worry. People often know what they need. In addition to providing relief like food, blankets, and hygiene kits, we listen to those we serve, which helps us create holistic and agile programming. Thanks to our donors, our partners on the ground, and the people we serve, we’re helping people find a place to belong where they are, for however long they are there. In 2022, our community made the following possible:

• In Venezuela, a food distribution project added medical services to provide health care to seniors who could not afford to see a doctor.
• A recycle for food project was added to complement mobile medical services to fight malnutrition and offer a dignified way to earn money for indigenous people in Colombia. From there, we heard and filled their need for clean water.
• A mobile hospital serving rural Syria added community health awareness sessions and a nutritional treat for those waiting to see a doctor, expanding our impact.
• Please see our entire 2022 Impact Report.