Friederike Bubenzer

Friederike is a seasoned South African peacebuilding practitioner with 20 years of experience, having spearheaded a diverse portfolio of impactful projects across Africa in collaboration with both local and international development partners. Her work is defined by innovation, particularly in pioneering research and advocacy initiatives that examine the critical intersection of health—especially mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS)—with peacebuilding efforts. Friederike’s contributions to the field include co-authoring a UNDP Guidance Note on the integration of MHPSS and Peacebuilding, hosting 10 iterations of the Transitional Justice in Africa Fellowship Programme at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, and supporting two major national reconciliation processes in South Sudan. She has co-edited two books and authored numerous opinion pieces, reports, and articles. She also serves on several peacebuilding and MHPSS-related reference and advisory groups, actively shaping policy and practice in these crucial areas. Through her work, Friederike seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice, contributing to sustainable peace and mental well-being in conflict-affected regions around the world.