Source description last updated: 1 December 2021
 
In brief: The International Crisis Group (ICG), founded in 1995 and based in Brussels, is a transnational, independent, non-profit organization, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent, mitigate or resolve deadly conflict.
 
Coverage on ecoi.net:
Reports (SR), Articles (Media).
Covered twice per week on ecoi.net, for countries of priorities A-C.
 
Mission/Mandate/Objectives:
The International Crisis Group’s mission is „to prevent wars and shape policies that will build a more peaceful world.“ (International Crisis Group website: Who We Are, undated)
 
„On a daily basis, our work informs policy discussions, highlights opportunities for effective early action, guides media coverage and draws attention to under-reported conflicts and humanitarian emergencies. “ (International Crisis Group website: Our Impact, undated) 

ICG’s mission states „We build support for the good governance and inclusive politics that enable societies to flourish. We engage directly with a range of conflict actors to seek and share information, and to encourage intelligent action for peace. [...] Crisis Group aspires to be the preeminent organisation providing independent analysis and advice on how to prevent, resolve or better manage deadly conflict.“ (ICG website: Who We Are, undated)

„Crisis Group recognises that saving lives is the central goal of all efforts to prevent, transform and resolve deadly conflict and that dialogue and negotiation, more inclusive politics, the better provision of basic public goods and services, and representative and accountable institutions that uphold human rights and the rule of law are constituent elements of a lasting peace.
It is committed to its independence; research that is expert; meticulous and inclusive of all conflict stakeholders, impartiality, balance, and timeliness in its analysis and reporting; bold, principled and practical policy prescriptions; persuasive and credible engagement with decision-makers; collaboration with partners where appropriate; bucking orthodoxy when required; vigorous, imaginative and sophisticated media outreach; rigour and transparency in everything it does; staying the course“ (International Crisis Group: Strategic Framework 2016–2018, 23 October 2015, p. 5)

“Our mission, vision and basic approach – combining on-the-ground research and analysis, pragmatic prescriptions and targeted advocacy – remain sound. But we must evolve. We envision a significant transformation that will enrich Crisis Group’s traditional country-based analysis […] with greater attention to geopolitical trends, key thematic issues and quantitative methods and, where useful, by convening conflict parties.” (International Crisis Group: Strategic Framework 2019-2024, undated, p. 9)

“As part of a wider commitment to an inclusive methodology, Crisis Group promotes gender mainstreaming, viewing it as a central, constituent dynamic of conflict. We will integrate gender sensitivity into report planning, field research and policy development.” (International Crisis Group: Strategic Framework 2019-2024, undated, p. 13) 

Funding:
Crisis Group is funded by governments, foundations, individuals and corporations. Their income consists largely of governmental funding and funding by individuals & corporations, but also of foundations and program services. (ICG website: Financials, no date)

ICG’s total support and revenue of the year 2020 added up to $ 30,746,101. (International Crisis Group: Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2021, November 2021, p. 5) 

Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: All countries worldwide
Thematic focus: Peace and justice, violence, international conflicts and war, politics and government, migration, environmental issues, international terrorism, human rights, democratisation
 
Methodology:
“Based on information and assessments from the field, ICG produces regular analytical reports containing practical recommendations targeted at key international decision-takers.” (Refworld website: International Crisis Group (ICG), undated)

“Crisis Group aspires to be the preeminent organisation providing independent analysis and advice on how to prevent, resolve or better manage deadly conflict. We combine expert field research, analysis and engagement with policymakers across the world in order to effect change in the crisis situations on which we work. We endeavour to talk to all sides and in doing so to build on our role as a trusted source of field-centred information, fresh perspectives and advice for conflict parties and external actors.” (ICG website: Who We Are, undated)

“ICG reports contain numerous references to interviews with government representatives, political parties, armed groups, the military, international and local human rights organizations, and local media.” (ACCORD: Researching Country of Origin Information - A Training Manual, April 2004 (updated April 2006), Annex, p. 14)

“Crisis Group’s methodology is evolving to respond to the changing demands of today’s world. It must systematically integrate the national, transnational, regional and global dimensions of increasingly multi-dimensional conflicts, and our advocacy evolve accordingly. Prioritisation is critical to our ability to focus resources and effort on those issues where we are best placed to make a difference and to promote consistent and transparent decision-making on significant new activities and expenditures. .” (International Crisis Group: Strategic Framework 2016-2018, 23 October 2015, p. 6)

“Our analysts are based in or near many of the world’s trouble spots, where there is concern about the possible outbreak of conflict, its escalation or recurrence. [...] They talk (to the extent possible) to all parties, find out what is happening and why, and research, as they do so, the best possible policies to address it.” (International Crisis Group: Strategic Framework 2016-2018, 23 October 2015, p. 6)

“In choosing the conflicts we cover and those whose coverage we will drop, we will weigh the impact we could have on a conflict and its victims, the feasibility of the work and the demand for it, and Crisis Group’s unique value-added, against the likely investment required, in terms of staff time and capacity.

[…] Subject to changing circumstances, over the next five years we do not intend to invest in areas other than Climate Change & Conflict, Gender & Conflict, Economics of Conflict, Jihad in Modern Conflict, and Technology & Conflict.” (International Crisis Group: Strategic Framework 2019-2024, undated, p. 14)

“New quantitative resources and techniques – such as satellite imagery, GIS mapping, survey methods and econometrics – will enable our experts to more accurately address conflict risk.” (International Crisis Group: Strategic Framework 2019-2024, undated, p. 10)

Language(s) of publications:
All reports are published in English. Additionally, they are usually also published in the national language of the country reported on.
 
Further reading / links:
Hazeldine, Tom: The North Atlantic Counsel: Complicity of the International Crisis Group, May–June 2010
https://newleftreview.org/II/63/tom-hazeldine-the-north-atlantic-counsel
 
The International Crisis Group: The Role of a Global NGO in Preventing and Resolving Deadly Conflict, Gareth Evans, 17 May 2012
http://www.gevans.org/speeches/speech471.html
 

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 1 December 2021.