London, UK // 26 June 2025 – Peace Direct, an international NGO dedicated to supporting local people to build peace that lasts, is hosting a global gathering for local peacebuilders and their allies this October.
Held from 13 to 17 October 2025, Peace Connect is the first global gathering of its kind. Local peacebuilders and their allies will gather in Nairobi, Kenya, for a week of connection, creativity, and collective action.
In the face of funding cuts and escalating conflict both internationally in the Middle East and Europe, and within countries like Sudan, local peacebuilders must have the chance to share their expertise and build networks for active solidarity across borders.
“The multiple crises facing the world right now, including the 120 active armed conflicts, demand an urgent and creative response,” Dylan Mathews, Peace Direct CEO, said. “This is what Peace Connect aims to do, bringing together some of the most pioneering, brave frontline activists and their allies to share experiences and build solidarity. The world needs more peacebuilders and we hope that Peace Connect will help catalyse new ideas and movements for peace.”
Almost 700 local peacebuilders from around the world will attend, including global leaders in peacebuilding. Representatives from Peace Direct’s 27 local partners will be there – these local peacebuilders work in 14 different conflict-affected countries, such as Afghanistan, DRC, Myanmar, Sudan, and Syria.
Peace Connect will look and feel different to other international peacebuilding events. It will be a gathering that truly centres the attendees, who will have space to focus on meaningful interactions, creativity, and wellbeing.
Led by local peacebuilders, Peace Connect will disrupt the pattern of international events that exclude local voices and serve the interests of Global North powerholders. An Advisory Group of local peacebuilders is developing the programme, and will co-create sessions with attendees. Peace Connect won’t feature keynotes and plenaries, but will instead enable the gathered activists and peacebuilders to collaborate on shared priorities.
For Diana Ishaqat, Advisory Group member and Peace Starts Here campaign co-creator from Jordan, Peace Connect is vital amid the current funding crisis: “It can be isolating to believe in peace. In my context, peace is a word associated with giving up on rights, with painful compromise, loss of indigenous rights, and Western interference. It’s important that peace is made local, localised, and that it speaks to local peacebuilders; those who are often the first to point out the signs of brewing conflicts and their many manifestations in everyday life.”
Lina María Jaramillo, Local Peacebuilding Expert in Colombia and Advisory Group member, said: “It is paradoxical and tragic that just when the world needs more acts of solidarity to counteract the suffering of war, a cloak of doubt has been raised over the importance of humanitarian assistance and cooperation. Today, we must connect our ideas of peace and solidarity with action if we are to sustain humanity amid this pain, death, and fear. For peacebuilding to remain possible, we must reconfigure the system and strengthen our collective action. That’s why Peace Connect matters in this moment.”
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Peace Direct is an international NGO based in the UK which supports local peacebuilders to stop violence and build sustainable peace. We provide funding, training and other resources to help them do the work that they feel is most relevant in their contexts. We currently support local peacebuilding efforts in 14 countries around the world. While we have been convening local peacebuilders for almost 20 years, Peace Connect is the first global gathering of peacebuilders that we have organised.
For too long, local peacebuilders’ voices have been missing from mainstream narratives about conflict resolution and peace outcomes. Peace Connect will offer journalists press passes to ensure media representatives have opportunities to learn about the vital work of local peacebuilders preventing violence globally, and share the real, human stories of peacebuilders with their readers. These passes give full access, covering the total cost of the ticket.
To secure a press pass, email the contacts listed below. Peace Direct is reserving at least two press passes for local journalists in Kenya. To access images to accompany coverage of Peace Connect or Peace Direct itself, please contact the media team below. FAQs for journalists here.
Dylan Mathews (he/him), CEO of Peace Direct, London, UK.
Diana Ishaqat (she/her), Peace Starts Here campaign co-creator, Peace Connect Advisory Group member. Jordan.
Lina María Jaramillo Rojas (she/her), Local Peacebuilding Expert in Colombia, Peace Connect Advisory Group member. Colombia.
Martine Kessy Ekomo-Soignet (she/her), Local Peacebuilding Expert in the Central African Republic and founding director of Peace & Development Watch RCA. CAR.
Vahe Mirikian (he/him), Managing Director, Peace Direct US. Washington DC, US.
Grace Rowley, Co-Head of Fundraising and Communications, Peace Direct. London, UK. [email protected].
Jennifer Venis, Senior Communications Officer, Peace Direct. London, UK. [email protected].
