Cyprus’s Peacebuilders Step Into the Breach as International Aid Dries Up
Nicosia, Cyprus – For decades, Cypriot civil society organizations have quietly worked to bridge the divide between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, fostering dialogue and understanding in the shadow of stalled peace talks. Now, as international funding for peacebuilding initiatives dwindles, these local actors are finding themselves thrust into a more central – and crucial – role, shaping the future of reconciliation on the divided island.
The situation in Cyprus, split along ethnic lines since the 1974 Turkish invasion, has long relied on external support. But a global shift in priorities, coupled with budget cuts in key donor countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, is leaving a significant funding gap. USAID, once a major supporter of Cypriot reconciliation programs like the Action for Cooperation and Trust (ACT), saw over 80% of its global humanitarian and peacebuilding programs cancelled by March 2025, according to the BBC. The UK has also slashed foreign aid by over £6 billion.
“There’s a growing assumption among foreign donors that it’s ‘futile’ supporting Cypriot peacebuilding until the island’s two administrations reconcile their differences,” says a representative from the Cyprus High Commission, speaking on background. This sentiment, while understandable, leaves a vacuum that local organizations are increasingly filling.
Traditionally, Cypriot CSOs operated as “Track II” peacebuilders – facilitating unofficial dialogue, workshops, and educational programs that complemented, but didn’t lead, official negotiations. Organizations like the Association of Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR) and Hands Across the Divide (HAD) have been instrumental in creating spaces for cross-community interaction, particularly since restrictions on movement between the north and south of the island eased in 2003.
The Home for Cooperation (HFC), a community hub located in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia, exemplifies this approach. Described as “the embodiment of intercommunal cooperation,” the HFC provides a neutral ground for Greek and Turkish Cypriots to meet, socialize, and participate in cultural events.
However, the decline in international funding is forcing these organizations to become more assertive, actively influencing the peace process itself. “If not us, then who?” asks an employee of AHDR, reflecting a growing sense of responsibility.
This shift is manifesting in several ways. CSOs are leveraging their close relationships with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) to advocate for the inclusion of peace education as a key component of any future peace agreement. AHDR’s Director, now a member of the Technical Committee on Education, is pushing for a “critical, empathetic and multiperspectival approach” to history education in schools.
HAD, a women’s organization focused on uniting Greek and Turkish Cypriot women, has successfully campaigned for the UN to prioritize gender inclusion in peace negotiations, leading to the creation of a Gender Affairs Officer position within UNFICYP in 2017.
“We’re filling the void left by the international community’s growing detachment,” says a member of HAD.
This increased agency isn’t without its challenges. Peace Direct, an international NGO, reports that funding cuts are putting immense pressure on local peacebuilders, making long-term planning difficult. Similar struggles are being reported in Ukraine, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where women-led initiatives are particularly vulnerable.
Despite these hurdles, the Cypriot experience offers a valuable lesson: indigenous civil society organizations are not merely supplementary actors in peacebuilding; they are integral to its success. As international attention and funding shift elsewhere, their local knowledge, deep-rooted relationships, and unwavering commitment are becoming more vital than ever. The future of peace in Cyprus, and perhaps in other conflict zones around the world, may well depend on their ability to step up and lead the way.
Resources:
- Home for Cooperation: https://www.home4cooperation.info/who-we-are/
- UNDP Support Facility to the Technical Committees: https://www.undp.org/cyprus/support-facility-technical-committees
- Peace Direct – Global Funding Cuts: https://www.peacedirect.org/global-funding-cuts
