About PRIO

The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) conducts research on the conditions for peaceful relations between states, groups and people.

Researchers at PRIO seek to understand the processes that bring societies together or split them apart. We explore how conflicts erupt and how they can be resolved; we investigate how different kinds of violence affect people; and we examine how societies tackle crises – and the threat of crisis. We document general trends, seek to understand processes, and inform concrete responses.

PRIO is committed to academic excellence. We aim to develop theoretical insights, refine research methodologies, and communicate our findings widely. We see this academic excellence as paramount to having a meaningful impact on society.

Research at PRIO is financed on a project basis by a range of scientific and policy-oriented funders. The institute is an independent foundation, international in its orientation, with an extensive network of collaborators worldwide.

Founded in 1959, the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) is an independent research institution known for its effective synergy of basic and policy-relevant research. In addition to such research, PRIO conducts graduate training and is engaged in the promotion of peace through conflict resolution, dialogue and reconciliation, public information and policymaking activities. The Institute’s working language is English.

People at PRIO

PRIO has an international staff of approximately 75 (counted in person-years), of which more than 50 are researchers, including doctoral candidates. The institute maintains an administrative/support staff of 15. Within the Norwegian setting, PRIO staff stand out for their high levels of professionalism and their academic productivity. The Institute’s governing board consists of five external appointees and two staff members. PRIO is an equal opportunities employer and values staff diversity.

Research at PRIO

Research at the Institute is multidisciplinary and concentrates both on the driving forces behind violent conflict and on ways in which peace can be built, maintained and spread. Projects carried out at the Institute are organized within thematic research groups, and researchers at PRIO are in addition organized in three departments and the PRIO Cyprus Centre. From 2002 through 2012, PRIO hosted the Centre for the Study of Civil War (CSCW), a long-term, interdisciplinary initiative that was awarded Centre of Excellence status and core funding by the Research Council of Norway. The diversity of disciplines at PRIO creates a thriving research community that attracts both scholars and funding from around the world.

Journals at PRIO

The Institute owns and hosts the editorial offices of two international peer-reviewed journals – Journal of Peace Research and Security Dialogue – both of which are edited at PRIO and published by Sage Publications in London. In addition, PRIO houses the editors of International Area Studies Review and the Journal of Military Ethics. The Institute also publishes reports and policy briefs. Institute researchers maintain high levels of productivity in the form of peer-reviewed articles in top international journals and books with reputable academic publishers.

Research and Engagement

At PRIO, academic research and engagement in peace processes go hand in hand: all peacebuilding engagements are rooted in solid research competence and feed into ongoing research – and ultimately to published academic work. The Institute’s policy-relevant findings are in high demand among international bodies (the UN, the World Bank), NGOs, the media and governments, including a number of Norwegian ministries.

Oslo and Nicosia

The Institute is located in modern research facilities in central Oslo. It maintains a separate office in Nicosia: the PRIO Cyprus Centre (PCC). The PCC is committed to research and dialogue aimed at contributing to an informed public debate on key issues relevant to an eventual settlement of the Cyprus problem. Researchers attached to the PCC include both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

Economy and Funders

Budgeted turnover for PRIO as a whole in 2016 is approximately 120 million Norwegian kroner (equivalent to roughly €13 million or $16 million). The Institute has a bottom-up and project-based budget model, where all research engagements depend on the acquisition of external funding. PRIO staff are skilled at combining research innovation with project-development initiative. Major sources of funding include the Research Council of Norway, Norwegian government ministries, the European Commission and a variety of international organizations and foundations.

PRIO’s Work with the Transparency Act

The act relating to enterprises' transparency and work on fundamental human rights and decent working conditions (the Transparency Act) entered into force 1 July 2022.

PRIO works to identify and assess possible negative impacts on basic human rights and employee rights within the Institute’s value chain.

PRIO’s due diligence account is available to read here.

Inquires to PRIO regarding information obligation and the Transparency Act may be directed to transparency@prio.org.