IPI Timeline

		The International Peace Academy (IPA) is founded to train military officers and diplomats for United Nations peacekeeping operations by Ruth Forbes Young and Indar Jit Rikhye, in close consultation with then UN Secretary-General U Thant.
		President Indar Jit Rikhye develops a program aimed at training civilians and military officers together for the challenges of preventing conflict and building peace.
		Under President Olara Otunnu, IPA branched out into political dimensions of war and peace, becoming known for its case studies of UN field operations and forward-looking analysis on new roles for the UN in the security sphere, as well as regional work on Africa.
		“IPI serves a marvelous function. It serves the UN community, it serves the diplomatic community. It has a discrete function dealing with a set of issues and has become very expert in them. It brings together academics, practitioners and UN people in a unique way. In my view, it’s a little mouse that really makes a big noise.” – Rita Hauser
		President David Malone took IPI more into the realm of scholarship and advocacy with frequent publication of opinion and analytical pieces.
		President Terje Rød-Larsen inaugurates institutional expansion and sets a new program direction with cross-disciplinary research on “Coping with Crisis.”
		IPA changes its name to the International Peace Institute (IPI) to reflect its new identity as a research institution working with and supporting multilateral institutions, governments, civil society, and the private sector on a range of regional and global security challenges.
		To broaden its outreach and enhance its convening power, IPI created a state-of-the-art website and inaugurated its Trygve Lie Center meeting hall. The number of events there doubled to more than 100 per year.
		The Global Observatory, IPI’s in-house online analysis publication is launched, providing timely analysis on peace and security issues by experts, journalists, and policymakers.
		IPI MENA is established in Manama, the Kingdom of Bahrain, to promote policy research on global peace and security within the Middle East and North Africa region.
		The Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations (CPO) is established, institutionalizing IPI’s research on UN efforts to prevent and manage international crisis. The center is named in honor of former IPI board member Sir Brian Urquhart, in recognition of his exceptional influence over the first generation of UN peacekeeping missions.
		The Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) launches a 2-year study to identify threats and challenges to international peace and security; to assess the effectiveness of existing multilateral institutions; and to make recommendations on how to make the international system fit for purpose.
		IPI’s Women, Peace & Security Program aims to increase understanding of the value and impact of women’s leadership and gender equality in conflict prevention, resolution, and sustaining peace. Through original research, convening, and strategic outreach, it focuses on creating a world where sustainable peace is possible–with women’s rights at its core.
		“For 50 years IPI has been at the forefront of the collective effort to strengthen the UN and to demonstrate the value of multilateralism more broadly, particularly in the quest for peace and reconciliation. Its close engagement of those within the UN itself is unique, and its knowledge of the inner workings of the international system is unparalleled. With new threats like climate change emerging, and new challenges to the multilateral order, it continues to have a key role to play.” – Kevin Rudd
		IPI celebrates 50 years on July 7th, 2020.