International Center for Peace and Development

The International Center for Peace and Development was established in 1995 as a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Napa, California, to continue the work initiated by the International Commission on Peace and Food (ICPF).

ICPF was constituted in 1989 by a group of 25 concerned scientists, professionals, international administrators, business, social and political leaders from 15 nations. Over a six-year period ICPF conducted a series of international conferences and research projects on a wide range of issues concerning global security, conversion of resources from military to civilian purposes, food security, employment, economic development, and the environment. The commission’s work focused on the development problems of poorer countries such as India, the challenges of rapid transition in Eastern Europe, particularly in the nations of the former Soviet Union, and the prospects and opportunities for peaceful development in the Middle East. From the outset, the objective the Commission was to evolve practical strategies that could be implemented at the field level to demonstrate the feasibility of accelerating the development process. The most noteworthy of these efforts was a study we conducted on employment potentials in India in which we formulated a strategy for generating 100 million new jobs in the country within 10 years. Another study was conducted on the utilization of military resources for environmental protection. In addition the commission studied and evolved proposals to address concerns about rising unemployment in the West. The general findings and recommendations of the Commission are summarized in a report entitled Uncommon Opportunities: Agenda for Peace and Equitable Development (Zed Books 1994), which was presented to the Secretary General of the United Nations for formal consideration by member countries.

After submission of the report to the UN, the Commission members decided that the next stage of work should focus on implementation of its recommendations. The International Center was established to carry on the work of the Commission.[1] Since then the Center works in collaboration with other organizations with similar programmatic objectives, including World Academy of Art and Science; The Mother's Service Society, Pondicherry, India; and Centre for Strategic and International Studies, New Delhi.