Peace processes are negotiations between adversaries that assist a transformation of a society's conflict dynamics. Determining how best to support these processes has always been a challenge for development personnel. USAID has worked on creating strategies for constructively interacting with conflict dynamics within the wider ecology of local, interagency, and international actors.

This toolkit is grounded in a comprehensive survey of USAID peace process activities to compile lessons about program success or failure. It is neither a programming plan nor a policy document, but instead guidance intended to help USAID staff and their implementing partners understand how to use development resources to support various forms of peace processes.