Crisis Group's Call for Support

Dear Crisis Group Supporters,

2009 has been another eventful year in international relations, and on behalf of all of us at Crisis Group, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for joining in our efforts to prevent deadly conflict. Whether by using our reports, engaging us in policy debates, or providing us with much needed financial support, you play a critical role in assisting our efforts in the pursuit of peace and security.

It has been almost six months since I took on the position of Crisis Group’s President, and I am constantly impressed with the calibre of all associated with the organisation—our Board members and staff, our Council members and supporters as well as Crisis Group’s interlocutors in the field and advocacy capitals.

Contributions up to a total of $500,000 made to Crisis Group before the end of the year will be doubled. Click here to help us meet the Matching Challenge.

I write today to provide you with a very brief update on some of this year’s key issues, a look towards 2010 and to let you know of an important year-end Matching Challenge.

We have continued to produce timely hard-hitting reports on a wide range of situations all over the world, often putting in the public domain ideas and recommendations that diplomats and political actors welcome privately and eventually incorporate into their policy orientations. Even when we do not succeed in preventing altogether recourse to unlawful deadly force in conflict, our engagement, in Sri Lanka for example, clearly serves to mitigate the devastation.

We cover some 60 conflicts, some heavily mediatised, others that would be almost invisible among opinion makers but for our intervention. We increasingly use podcasts, videos, blogs and other interactive features online—all of which have helped Crisis Group improve its efficacy and expand its reach even further.

Crisis Group will continue to build on our achievements in 2010 as the authoritative source of field-based insights, analyses and recommendations and as a prime reference for international and domestic policymakers on conflict resolution. We will remain engaged in debates involving many actors in complex situations, such as Afghanistan/Pakistan, the Middle East and Sudan, while continuing to draw attention to preventive opportunities in situations that, if neglected, could enflame entire2 0countries and regions. Our current work on Guinea is a good example of our efforts to intervene early in less known but potentially deadly emerging conflicts.

We look forward to your continued support of our efforts. Maintaining a diverse funding base is critical to preserving Crisis Group's political independence and credibility, and it is with this in mind that we are pleased to announce a year-end Matching Challenge. Thanks to the generous initiative of Crisis Group Board member, Frank Giustra, contributions up to a total of $500,000 made to Crisis Group before the end of the year will be doubled. We hope that you will help us meet this Challenge as we, collectively, continue to rise to the challenge of the advancement of international peace and security.

Once again, thank you so much for your involvement with Crisis Group. I wish you and your family the very best in this holiday season and for the New Year.

Yours sincerely,

Louise Arbour
President