January 2026 Reflections on Peace

From Capital to Peace: Insights from the Global Center for Peace Innovation bi-monthly

Webinar. As the final webinar of 2025 organized by the Global Center for Peace Innovation, the most recent UPEACE dialogue encouraged the exploration of the growing use of innovative finance in situations of uncertainty and declining traditional sources of funding for peacebuilding. In conversation with UPEACE NY Executive Director Melissa Wild, Heather McGee, the Chief Executive Officer of 17 Asset Management, expressed her insights gained from her organization’s experience and from CaribGrow, a place-based investment strategy that enhances food systems across the Caribbean. Her presentation underscored the potential of well-designed capital that not only moves past the extractive mindset but also addresses societal and environmental issues as real-world risk. This dialogue ended the year by encouraging peacebuilders to consider how they can participate in improving global financial markets through innovating financing and peace literacy as well as encouraging investors to consider their impact on people and planet through a systems approach to peacebuilding.