"The situation of women has been better during the conflict than before, despite the war… during the peaceful protests in 2011, the voice of women became equal to that of men and the revolution was an opportunity to demand more rights for women."

Syria’s civil war has been tearing the country apart for eight years. When it ends, political will, knowledge and expertise will be needed to build consensus for a democratic and inclusive society.

The Mill of Frok Dokic may not look like much. However, here, in the shadow of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Letnica, students, professors, restorers, carpenters and other tradespeople are restoring a centuries-old building full of cultural heritage to its former glory.

Natural resources belong to local communities not to militias. Since 2003, the EU and international partners representing 99% of the world’s diamond trade have joined forces to make sure that the production and trade of rough diamonds contributes to peace and sustainable economic and human development. The Kimberley Process is a unique tool for conflict prevention and promotes sustainable development. Holding the rotating Chairmanship in 2018, the EU seeks to ensure that the Process remains fit for purpose in a changing context.

Bilateral cooperation between cities plays a major role in tackling some of today's most pressing challenges, including rapid urbanisation and the consequences of climate change. The International Urban Cooperation (IUC) programme supports city-to-city, sub-national and inter-regional cooperation to spur sustainable development and build partnerships across the globe. By setting up local, regional and global networks in Asia's economic powerhouses, the IUC is building cooperation with cities from two of the EU's most important partners.

Dangerously close to a conflict zone, one school in Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, is, with the help of the EU, working hard to improve the safety of its students.

As stability and prosperity of the Lake Chad region are under threat by the presence of terrorist groups, the European Union and Chadian government work together to increase security and border controls on Lake Chad and the Chari-Logone rivers. The improvement of security infrastructure marks a crucial step towards increasing regional stability and economic prosperity for the local population and fighting organised crime in the region.

An IcSP-funded project in Mali and Senegal tackles child labour by providing education and social reintegration work to children who have been exploited.

Libya has seen political turmoil, violence, and instability since 2011. What was hoped to be a success story – of democratic transition after the Arab revolutions – has turned into a protracted armed conflict.

An IcSP-funded project has tackled two issues that contributed to instability in Guinea: lack of trust between citizens and the police and the removal of abandoned weapon stockpiles.

An IcSP-funded project to remove deadly landmines in Colombia shows that communities can overcome the legacy of terrible and divisive conflict and is a powerful example for others to follow.

IcSP-funded projects have helped Syrian refugees in Turkey to integrate into their host communities, access health and education services and contribute to the local economy.

An IcSP-funded project has provided the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine with the tools required to help ease tensions, engage all parties and build trust across the Line of Contact.

The IcSP’s European Resources for Mediation Support (ERMES) project continues to play a crucial role in fostering mediation and dialogue in conflict zones around the world.

* From March 2014, the Instrument for Stability (IfS) is succeeded by the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP)