Geneva Centre for Security Policy

For the think tank based in Washington, DC, see Center for Security Policy.

The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) is an international foundation that was established in 1995 under Swiss law to "promote the building and maintenance of peace, security and stability". The GCSP was founded by the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports in cooperation with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs as a Swiss contribution to Partnership for Peace (PfP).

Location

GCSP's headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland in the maison de la paix building (the house of peace), which is owned by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. It shares the building with the Graduate Institute, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). It is the main element of the campus de la paix (the campus of peace).

Activities

GCSP's core activity is the provision of executive education and training in comprehensive international peace and security policy for mid-career diplomats, military officers, and civil servants from foreign, defence, and other relevant ministries, as well as from international organisations. Participants in GCSP courses come from countries of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue, the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, and beyond, including South and East Asia and Africa. In addition to its three long-term courses (each lasting from three to nine months) offered in Geneva, the GCSP also offers tailor-made courses in Geneva, New York, Dakar, Amman, Baku, Addis Ababa, Yerevan and Sarajevo.

GCSP has more than 3000 alumni from over 100 countries, creating a diverse and global network of experts in the field of international relations and security. GCSP Alumni enjoy lifelong learning opportunities, regional networking events, tailored alumni content on the web and on social media. The GCSP supports its alumni in the development of regional alumni hubs. GCSP staff come from a wide range of countries, disciplines, and interests, covering a broad spectrum of the security-policy arena. They write extensively in GCSP publications, internationally reputed peer-reviewed journals, and other publications. In addition, they contribute regularly to the policy and academic debates on key security issues. Moreover, the GCSP convenes conferences, workshops, and discussions to promote dialogue on peace and security issues. Some of the latter activities aim to facilitate discreet dialogue in post-conflict situations.

GCSP's work focuses on regional development, emerging security challenges, leadership, and crisis and conflict management.

Governance and funding

The GCSP's governing body is the Foundation Council, which consists of representatives of over 40 member states and the Canton of Geneva. GCSP management is guided on key policy issues by an international advisory board which includes prominent persons with experience in the security field and in international organisations, government, civil society, and academia.

While the Swiss government is the principal contributor to GCSP's budget, other council members, partner states, and institutions support the GCSP by seconding faculty, funding scholarships, and contributing to other aspects of the centre's activities.

See also

• Maison de la paix

External links

• Geneva Centre for Security Policy website
• Federal Department of Foreign Affairs website
• Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport website
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
• Uppsala Conflict Data Program