By consolidating and advancing the knowledge on factors that facilitate peace and foster human security, this project meets the goals of the 7th Framework area 8.4.2. Conflicts, Peace, and Human Rights. Namely, it investigates whether, how, and under what conditions multi-stakeholder partnerships can positively impact on human security and thus, facilitate non-violence and long-term peace, and provide a productive framework for relations between local actors and external actors, including third party mediators and international organisations. The project moves from the recognition that there is a widespread agreement among both academics and policy makers on the need to adopt more comprehensive, integrative, and participatory approaches in post-conflict interventions. Within this broader framework, multi-staekholder partnerships are then emerging as one of the preferred tools geared towards enhancing participation, legitimacy and effectiveness of post-conflict interventions. However, there is a clear lack of systematic analysis of the multi-stakeholder partnerships and of evaluation of their concrete impact on effectiveness and sustainability of post-conflict reconstruction initiatives. The project will base its empirical investigation on three core case studies of core political interest to the EU today: Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Afghanistan. By employing a participatory methodology, the project will ensure the highest degree of on-going feedback between its researchers and different local and international actors operating in these settings and will explore opportunities to directly impact on partnerships that are evolving in these societies. By translating its findings into policy recommendations, the project will contribute to enhancing the role of Europe in conflict prevention and resolution as well as in fostering the rule of law.