Roland Friedrich
Associate Expert
Roland Friedrich has been working on conflict management, peacebuilding, mediation, and security sector governance and reform in the MENA region for more than 18 years. He currently serves as Deputy Director for the West Bank with UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). From 2020 to 2023, Mr Friedrich served as Senior Peacebuilding Adviser and Director of Programmes at IDLO (International Development Law Organization) where he oversaw the organization’s global rule of law and access to justice portfolio including 19 country offices. From 2014 to 2020, Mr Friedrich served as Chief of Analysis (2017-2020) and Senior Political Officer (2014-2017) at UNSMIL (United Nations Support Mission in Libya). He was responsible for political-military affairs, security arrangements, armed groups engagement, reconciliation, security sector reform, and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR). For six years, Mr Friedrich was deeply involved in UN-led mediation efforts in Libya. From 2005 to 2013, Mr Friedrich was Head of Office for the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) in Palestine where he led a multi-million dollar security sector governance and reform programme. Mr Friedrich also worked as a policy analyst with the Middle East Conflict Management Programme at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London (2004-2005). He holds an MSc in Middle East Politics (School of Oriental and African Studies, London), an MA in Political Science, International Law, and Spanish (Bonn University), and an Executive MBA (University of Cambridge). Mr Friedrich has written extensively on conflict management, peacebuilding, and security sector governance and reform in the Arab region. He is a fluent Arabic and Spanish speaker and knows French reasonably well.
Fields of expertise: Conflict Management & Prevention, Peacebuilding, Mediation, Ceasefire and Security Arrangements, Armed Groups, Climate Security, Security Sector Governance and Reform, DDR, Rule of Law, Libya, Israel, Palestine
Main publications
- G20 Insights (2021), SDG16: An enabler for accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda amid Covid-19
- Friedrich, R. and Pecci, F. (2020), ‘Libya: Unforeseen Complexities’, in: Paul R. Williams and Milena Sterio (eds.), Research Handbook on Post-Conflict State Building
- Friedrich, R. et. al. (eds.) (2011), Community Safety and Security Sector Governance, DCAF Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (2011), Enhancing Strategic Thinking in German Foreign Policy, Berlin
- Friedrich, R. et. al. (eds.) (2010), Towards Palestinian National Reconciliation, DCAF
- Friedrich, R. and Luethold, A. (2009), ‘And they came in and took possession of reforms – Local Ownership and Palestinian Security Sector Reform’, in: Timothy Donais (ed.), Local Ownership and Security Sector Reform, DCAF
- Friedrich, R. (2008), ‘Palestine’, in: Vanessa Shields/Nicholas Baldwin (eds.), Beyond Settlement – The Security Dimension, New Haven
- Friedrich, R., Luethold, A. and Milhem, F. (eds.) (2008), The Security Sector Legislation of the Palestinian National Authority, DCAF
- Friedrich R. (2008), ‘Palestine’, in: Praeger Security International, Handbook National Approaches to Intelligence, London
- Friedrich, R. and Luethold, A. (eds.) (2007), Entry-Points to Palestinian Security Sector Reform, DCAF
- Friedrich, R. (2005), Die deutsche Außenpolitik im Kosovo-Konflikt, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik (DGAP)
- Friedrich. R. (2005), Security Sector Reform in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Palestinian Academy for the Study of International Affairs