Violence and conflict are complex, and so is prevention. A national prevention strategy (NPS) offers an opportunity to bring efforts together into a coherent system. Yet there is no shared understanding of what an effective NPS looks like, how actors should collaborate to address the complexity of violence and prevention, and what a clear framework for an effective prevention system would measure to capture impact and communicate success.
In response to these challenges, the NYU Center on International Cooperation (CIC), in partnership with the Australian Government, has developed evidence-based, voluntary policy guidance for NPS. While developing an NPS is a context-specific effort, countries across regions and socio-economic levels often face similar challenges: building an evidence-based approach tailored to their contexts, generating buy-in, coordinating efforts, and sustaining them over time, all while navigating complex political and bureaucratic obstacles. This document aims to build on decades of research and practical experience in conflict and violence prevention to support national actors in designing or strengthening their NPS while allowing for context-specific approaches. This guidance can serve as both a resource for countries designing or strengthening their own conflict and violence prevention strategies and a practical tool for international partners, including donors, the UN, and IFIs, to identify key areas for support and investment. Ultimately, its goal is to strengthen the effectiveness of NPS, build confidence in prevention approaches, increase political commitment and investment, and enable more coordinated, effective multilateral support.