Award Won!

Best Social Media Crowdsourcing Game

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Award Won!

Innovation Award (Available 2016-present)

Award Info
A screenshot from The PEACEGAME showing a running chat from a prior game play session

The PEACEGAME

Organization:

CRISP – Conflict Transformation and Principles for Peace Foundation

Dev Category:

Release Year:

The PEACEGAME is an advanced simulation tool that provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of conflict dynamics and peacebuilding. Its AI-powered environment and focus on sustainable solutions make it an invaluable resource for anyone involved in peace and conflict resolution, from high-level policymakers to local practitioners. This innovative approach not only educates but also equips users with the skills and strategies necessary to foster durable peace in complex and ever-changing environments.
The PEACEGAME is a cutting-edge interactive learning tool designed to address complex issues related to peace and conflict through scenario-based simulations. The simulation game immerses participants in a structured environment where they assume semi-fictitious roles, allowing them to explore and develop solutions to challenging conflict situations. These are the Key Features of The PEACEGAME:

SIMULATION OF REAL-WORLD CONFLICT DYNAMICS:
The game realistically captures the unpredictability and complexity of conflicts, helping participants grasp the intricacies of peace processes. It allows users to test new strategies for conflict resolution, explore alternative approaches, and learn from the outcomes of these strategies in a safe and controlled environment.

AI-DRIVEN IMMERSION:
PEACEGAME introduces an AI-powered simulation engine that generates consequences based on participants’ decisions, mimicking the cascading effects of actions in real-life conflict settings. This adds depth to the game by requiring players to navigate the unintended consequences of their actions, making the experience more realistic and instructive.

FOCUS ON PEACEBUILDING BEYOND CRISIS MANAGEMENT:
The game is not limited to crisis management; it also emphasizes the importance of sustainable peacebuilding. Participants are encouraged to think beyond immediate conflict resolution, considering long-term strategies and the implementation of peace agreements. This forward-thinking approach helps refine strategies and supports evidence-based decision-making.

CUSTOMIZABILITY AND APPLICABILITY TO DIFFERENT CONTEXTS:
The game is highly adaptable, with different editions tailored to various audiences, such as mediators, policymakers, and local peacebuilders. For instance, the Mediator’s Edition focuses on enhancing peace mediation efforts, while the AI-Supported Edition offers a more complex and dynamic environment that reflects the interconnected nature of modern conflicts.

EDUCATIONAL AND STRATEGIC TOOL:
PEACEGAME serves as both an educational tool and a strategic resource. It is designed to help stakeholders—ranging from policymakers to grassroots activists—understand the multi-layered nature of peace processes and the importance of adapting strategies to the conditions on the ground. By engaging with the game, participants can gain insights into the effectiveness of different approaches to conflict resolution and apply these lessons to their work in the field.

Game Overview

The PEACEGAME teaches participants a variety of critical skills and ideas essential for effective conflict transformation and peacebuilding. The following skills and ideas equip participants with the tools necessary to navigate and address real conflicts, making them more effective in their roles as peacebuilders, mediators, and policymakers:

1) Strategic Decision-Making: Players learn to assess complex situations, make informed decisions, and anticipate the consequences of their actions in dynamic conflict environments.

2) Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: The game encourages participants to analyze root causes of conflicts, assess alternative solutions, and devise innovative approaches to peacebuilding.

3) Negotiation and Mediation: Participants practice negotiation techniques and mediation strategies, honing their ability to facilitate dialogue, build consensus, and resolve disputes among conflicting parties.

4) Adaptability and Resilience: The AI-driven nature of the game requires players to adapt to unexpected outcomes, teaching them to remain flexible and resilient in the face of changing circumstances.

5) Collaboration and Teamwork: The game fosters a collaborative environment where players must work together, often across different roles and perspectives, to achieve common peacebuilding goals.

6) Understanding of Conflict Dynamics: Participants gain a deep understanding of the complexities of conflict, including the interplay between various stakeholders, the impact of external factors, and the challenges of implementing peace agreements.

7) Long-term Peacebuilding Focus: The game emphasizes the importance of sustainable peacebuilding, encouraging participants to think beyond immediate conflict resolution and consider the long-term implications of their strategies.

The overall challenge is to achieve a durable and comprehensive peace that addresses both the immediate and underlying issues of the conflict, as well as the complexities and uncertainties inherent in real-world peace processes. This involves several specific objectives:

1) Negotiating Peace Agreements: Players must work together to draft, negotiate, and implement peace agreements that address the root causes of the conflict, balance the interests of various stakeholders, and lay the groundwork for long-term stability.

2) Managing Conflict Dynamics: Players are challenged to respond effectively to evolving conflict dynamics while minimizing the escalation of violence.

3) Building Consensus: Participants aim to build consensus among diverse parties, often with conflicting interests, ensuring that the solutions proposed are acceptable to all key stakeholders and can be implemented effectively.

4) Adapting to Unintended Consequences: The game introduces unintended consequences based on player decisions, requiring them to adapt their strategies and find innovative solutions to emerging challenges.

5) Balancing Short-term and Long-term Objectives: Players must balance the need for immediate conflict resolution with the pursuit of long-term peacebuilding goals, ensuring that their actions lead to sustainable outcomes rather than temporary fixes.

6) Testing and Refining Strategies: Throughout the game, players are encouraged to test different strategies, learn from their outcomes, and refine their approaches to enhance the effectiveness of their peacebuilding efforts.

The primary audience for The PEACEGAME includes a diverse range of stakeholders involved in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Specifically, the game is designed for:

a) Policymakers and Government Officials: Individuals involved in drafting, negotiating, and implementing peace agreements at national and international levels. This includes ministry desk officers, political representatives, and diplomats seeking to test and refine peacemaking strategies.

b) Peace Mediators and Negotiators: Professionals who facilitate dialogue between conflicting parties and work to achieve sustainable peace agreements. The game provides a safe environment to practice and hone their mediation and negotiation skills.

c) Local Peacebuilders and Civil Society Activists: Community leaders, NGO workers, and other grassroots practitioners who are directly involved in on-the-ground peace efforts. The game helps them explore and implement effective strategies for conflict resolution and community engagement.

d) Military Personnel and Security Forces: Members of the military who may be involved in peacekeeping missions or conflict zones. The game offers training on adhering to international humanitarian law and engaging in responsible and ethical conduct during operations.

e) Academics and Researchers: Scholars and students of conflict resolution, international relations, and peace studies who use the game as an educational tool to understand the dynamics of peace processes and test theoretical frameworks in a simulated environment.

f) International Organizations and NGOs: Organizations working in the field of peace and security, such as the United Nations, which can use the game to train their staff, refine strategies, and promote best practices in conflict resolution.

This broad audience reflects the game’s adaptability and relevance to various roles within the peacebuilding ecosystem, from high-level decision-makers to local practitioners on the front lines of conflict resolution.

The PEACEGAME assesses the performance of players through a combination of dynamic in-game outcomes, real-time feedback, and post-game evaluations. These assessment mechanisms reflect the complexities of peacebuilding while offering insights into players’ decision-making, strategic thinking, and collaborative efforts. These ensure that The PEACEGAME tests players’ skills while offering valuable feedback to enhance their peacebuilding and conflict resolution abilities. Here’s how the game tests and assesses player performance:

1. IN-GAME OUTCOMES AND CONSEQUENCES:
Scenario-Based Consequences: The game tracks the outcomes of the decisions made by players. The AI engine generates realistic consequences based on these decisions, which can range from successful peace agreements to unintended escalations of conflict. “Positive outcomes reward effective strategic thinking, while negative outcomes reveal areas for improvement and reflection on the Principles for Peace.
Achievement of Objectives: Players are given specific objectives, such as negotiating a peace settlement or managing a crisis. The extent to which players meet these goals reflects their ability to navigate complex scenarios and implement effective solutions.

2. REAL-TIME FEEDBACK:
Adaptive Challenges: As the game progresses, the AI may introduce new challenges or complications based on previous decisions, forcing players to adapt. The ability to respond effectively to these challenges is a crucial measure of resilience and problem-solving skills.
Immediate Consequence Management: Players manage the immediate outcomes of their decisions, including negative effects, and are assessed based on how quickly and effectively they respond.

3. COLLABORATIVE PERFORMANCE:
Teamwork and Collaboration: In scenarios where players must work together, their ability to collaborate effectively is assessed. This monitors how well they communicate, negotiate, and reach consensus—skills necessary for achieving shared goals.
Role-Specific Contributions: Players often assume specific roles, such as mediator, negotiator, or stakeholder. Their performance is assessed based on how effectively they fulfill the responsibilities of their role, contribute to the overall objectives, and support their team.

4. POST-GAME DEBRIEFING AND EVALUATION:
Facilitator and Peer Feedback: After the game, players participate in debriefing sessions where facilitators and peers provide feedback on their performance. This feedback includes both positive reinforcement and constructive criticism. This qualitative assessment helps players reflect on their experiences and learn from their decisions.
Performance Metrics and Analytics: The game may include analytical tools that track and report on various performance metrics, such as decision-making speed, the number of successful negotiations, or the ability to de-escalate conflicts, providing a quantitative assessment of player performance.
Learning Outcomes: The game also assesses whether players have achieved specific learning outcomes, such as understanding the dynamics of peace processes, improving negotiation skills, or developing better strategic thinking. This is often reflected in both the debriefing and the players’ ability to apply their experience to future scenarios.

5. SCENARIO COMPLEXITY AND ROLE EVOLUTION:
Progressive Complexity: As players advance through the game, they encounter increasingly complex scenarios. Their ability to handle these more challenging situations provides an additional layer of performance assessment. Players who successfully navigate complex scenarios demonstrate higher levels of competence and understanding.
Role Evolution: In some versions of the game, players may be given opportunities to take on different roles or responsibilities as they progress. Their performance in these evolving roles is assessed to determine their versatility and growth.

The PEACEGAME has already been successfully implemented in multiple high-level settings, including with policymakers, military and professional mediators in Brussels and Geneva. It has been used by the Somali Foreign Ministry during a workshop in Kenia to test their local peacebuilding approaches, providing valuable insights into planning conflict sensitive interventions. Additionally, the German Foreign Ministry has employed the PEACEGAME to stress-test their country strategies for various war-torn regions, further validating its effectiveness. These implementations demonstrate the game’s robust proof of concept, and we are now ready to scale up its use globally. We sincerely hope that this contest will support us in expanding the PEACEGAME’s reach and impact, empowering more policymakers and peacebuilders with this innovative tool for sustainable conflict resolution.

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