Thematic Practice Groups
Comprising leading global experts, IFIT’s high-level thematic practice groups work to advance new knowledge in the field, while accompanying and supporting the efforts of IFIT’s in-country brain trusts.
An IFIT practice group is a purpose-built community of 15 expert-practitioners. Currently, IFIT operates practice groups focused on the following cross-cutting challenges of negotiation and transition strategy:
- How to tackle questions of law and accountability as part of a larger peace deal or political settlement;
- How to construct and promote inclusive social and political narratives in fragile and conflict-affected societies;
- How to enable local recipients of technical and financial assistance to achieve better relationships and results with international providers of such assistance.
The main services of each practice group are advisory in nature, and geared toward a mix of strategy support and technical assistance. Although the specific services vary from case to case, they typically encompass confidential on-call advice (e.g., technical briefings, policy planning, risk analysis), customised writing (e.g., options memos, non-papers) and lessons sharing at IFIT-organised meetings. IFIT practice groups also tend to generate their own research agenda, including publication of original ideas and practice briefs on core concepts and issues.
In working with IFIT’s country brain trusts and other local partners, the practice groups offer many potential benefits. Above all, they help:
- Aggregate specialised expertise in one place that would otherwise be dispersed across many organisations and individuals;
- Make such expertise available freely and in real time to IFIT brain trusts and local policymakers across widely diverse settings;
- Promote key lessons, ideas and strategic options that would not be sufficiently articulated in the absence of the group.
Our Practice Groups
Law and Peace
Via its Law and Peace Practice Group, IFIT supports the development of creative and realistic solutions to amnesty and accountability issues that arise in contexts of negotiated transition out of war or authoritarian rule. This group is the main conduit through which IFIT conducts in-country advisory work related to this issue area.
Inclusive Narratives
IFIT’s Inclusive Narratives Practice Group provides advice and support on transforming national narratives to increase the chances of successful negotiation, dialogue or transition. Via this group, IFIT conducts analysis and develops practical tools for integrating narrative as a central component of peacebuilding.
Transition Assistance
IFIT’s Transition Assistance Practice Group deals with the specific subset of international technical and financial aid aimed at facilitating transitions to democracy and peace. Via this practice group, IFIT seeks to improve the way recipients and providers of transition assistance work together in affected countries.