Building an Effective Infrastructure for Peace in Syria and Lebanon

Infrastructure for peace (I4P) is an institutionalized approach to peacebuilding and an interconnected framework that links actors, regulations and mechanisms across local and national levels to support conflict prevention and sustainable peace. In Syria and Lebanon, building an effective I4P entails embedding and adapting its core components—actors, regulations and mechanisms—to local political, social and institutional realities and identifying ways to transform existing drivers of conflict into structures that foster building sustainable peace. Based on an in-depth analysis, this paper provides targeted policy recommendations for central governments, civil society organizations and international organizations in Syria and Lebanon. 

The cases of Homs in Syria and Akkar in Lebanon demonstrate distinct but related challenges and opportunities. Syria requires a more institutionalized and networked peace architecture that effectively links national peace and justice mechanisms with local constituencies. In Lebanon, the priority is to move beyond fragmented and ad hoc mediation and crisis management efforts towards a coherent national peace infrastructure that connects local prevention initiatives with broader governance reform.