Source description last updated: 15 September 2022

In brief: The Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is a non-profit organisation based in Washington, D.C., which focuses on advocating responsibility of conflict parties towards civilians before, during and after armed conflict.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

Policy briefs and research reports

Covered quarterly on ecoi.net for countries of priorities A–C.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

The Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) aims to promote the protection of civilians in conflict situations (CIVIC: “If I leave… I cannot breathe”: Climate Change and Civilian Protection in Iraq, July 2022, p. iii). CIVIC states that it ‘envisions a world in which no civilian is harmed in conflict.’ It seeks to ‘support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection and strengthen the resolve and capacity of armed actors to prevent and respond to civilian harm.’ (CIVIC website: About Us, undated)

Amongst others, in the countries CIVIC operates in, it “conducts in-depth research, speaking with victims and survivors to understand how they were harmed, their vulnerabilities, what they think about armed actors, and what they expect in terms of recognition and assistance.” Moreover, CIVIC engages with military actors “to understand what protection guidance and practice currently exists.” Based on this research, CIVIC seeks “to develop pragmatic recommendations that can be implemented to reduce further harm to civilians and to properly respond when harm does occur.” (CIVIC website: Approach, undated)

Funding:

As of 2019, the vast majority of CIVIC’s revenue came from contributions and grants (CIVIC website: 2019 IRS 990 Form, p. 1). Sources of funding of CIVIC’s programmes include the German Federal Foreign Office (CIVIC: "If I Leave... I Cannot Breathe": Climate Change and Civilian Protection In Iraq, July 2022, p. iii; CIVIC: Missing in Action: Women in Iraq’s Security Forces, March 2022, p. iii), the Swiss Confederation (CIVIC: Fighting for our Lives: COVID-19 and the Protection of Civilians in Conflict-Affected States, November 2021, p. iii), and the European Union (CIVIC: Civilian Protection Snapshot: Gwoza, Nigeria, December 2021, p. 1).

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: Africa (East Africa, Mali, Niger, Nigeria); Ukraine; MENA region (Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen)

Thematic focus: conflict-related harm to civilians; protection of civilians

Methodology:

CIVIC reports may be based on qualitative analysis of focus group discussions (see, for example, CIVIC: Missing in Action: Women in Iraq’s Security Forces, March 2022, p. 6) and semi-structured interviews conducted on the ground. Interviews are conducted in the interviewees’ own language. Prior to conducting an interview, CIVIC researchers explain the aims of the research and ask interviewees for informed consent (see, for example, CIVIC: Missing in Action: Women in Iraq’s Security Forces, March 2022, p. 6 and CIVIC: Ignoring Iraq’s Most Vulnerable: The Plight of Displaced Persons, April 2021, p. 5). Interviewees may be members of civil society and international organisations, the military and police forces (see, for example, CIVIC: Fighting for our Lives: COVID-19 and the Protection of Civilians in Conflict-Affected States, November 2021, p. 6). In addition to field research, CIVIC consults existing literature (see, for example, CIVIC: Missing in Action: Women in Iraq’s Security Forces, March 2022, p. 6 and CIVIC: Fighting for our Lives: COVID-19 and the Protection of Civilians in Conflict-Affected States, November 2021, p. 6).

Languages of publication:

English and Arabic

Methodological note:

ecoi.net's source descriptions contain background information on an organisation’s mission & objective, funding and reporting methodology, as well as on how we cover the source. The descriptions were prepared after researching publicly accessible information within time constraints. Most information contained in a source description was taken from the source itself. The aim is to provide a brief introduction to the sources covered regularly, offering information on relevant aspects in one place in a systematic manner. 

 

All links accessed 15. September 2022.