Staff

Dr Claudia Breitung

Dr Claudia Breitung

Technical Advisor/Senior Researcher


contact by phone

+49 228 911 96-67

contact by mobile

+49 160 7956934

contact by e-mail

claudia.breitung(at)bicc.de

Expertise

Research Profile


Claudia has more than 15 years of experience, as a practitioner, trainer and researcher, in the field of conflict analysis and transformation mostly on the African continent. Her work focuses on the trajectories of individuals moving in and out of armed groups. Her research interests include the organisation of non-state armed actors, pathways out of armed conflict, economies of violence and small arms and light weapons control. 

Research Topics / Key Expertise


Analysis of non-state armed groups   

Trajectories in and out of armed groups  

Weapons and ammunition management/Small arms and light weapons control  

Reintegration processes of individuals transiting into civilian life  

Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Processes (DDR)

United Nations peace and stabilisation operations

Economies of violence  

Armed violence reduction/conflict transformation

Countries Of Expertise


  • Nigeria,
  • Cameroon,
  • South Sudan

Professional Career

Since 2011 Dr. Claudia Breitung has worked for bicc in various capacities (technical advisor, project manager, senior researcher) with a focus on the organisation of armed actors, pathways in and out of armed groups as well as weapons and ammunition management (WAM) processes. Since 2018 she has supported the UN Interagency Working Group on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (IAWG-DDR) in the revision, operationalisation and dissemination of the Integrated DDR Standards (IDDRS). Currently, she is conducting research on regional approaches to dealing with armed groups in the Sahel region. Before joining bicc, she was a research assistant at the Institute of Sociology at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany. For the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) she conducted research on development cooperation in post-conflict situations. Her doctoral thesis focused on organisational behaviour of humanitarian agencies in their interaction with rebel groups.

Important Publications

Other publications

Berks, M., & Breitung, C., & Richards, J., & Tonn, A.

The evolving nature of DDR. Study on engaging armed groups across the peace continuum

UN Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) & BICC (2021)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Breitung, C.

Why there is a need to reframe the discourse on armed groups in Mali: Requirements for successful disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration

BICC , Bonn (2019)

Open
bicc Working paper

Breitung, C., & Paes, W., & van de Vondervoort, L.

In need of a critical re-think: Security sector reform in South Sudan

BICC , Bonn (2016)

Open

Publications

bicc Policy brief

Berks, M., & Oginni, O., & Breitung, C., & Alhassan, M., & Tondandi, A.

Une entreprise risquée : engager des groupes d'autodéfense dans le bassin du lac Tchad

bicc , Bonn (2024)

Open
bicc report

Amin , N., & Berks , M., & Breitung, C., & Philipsenburg, A., & Raafat, L.

Aborder les dynamiques régionales des conflits armés—Connecter la politique de DDR, la recherche et la pratique

bicc , Bonn (2024)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Berks, M., & Oginni, O., & Breitung, C., & Alhassan, M., & Tondandi, A.

Risky Business: Engaging Vigilante Groups in the Lake Chad Basin

bicc , Bonn (2024)

Open
Report

Amin, N., & Berks, M., & Breitung, C., & Raafat, L., & Philipsenburg, A.

Addressing Regional Dynamics of Armed Conflict - Connecting DDR Policy, Research and Practice

bicc , Bonn (2024)

Open

bicc Policy brief

Breitung, C., & Berks, M., & Haidara, B., & Oginni, O.

Coup in Niger: Why Military Interventions are Doomed to Fail

bicc , Bonn (2023)

Open

Other publications

Breitung, C., & Richards, J.

The Evolving Nature of DDR: Study on Engaging Armed Groups Across the Peace Continuum.

BICC , Bonn (2022)

Open
bicc Knowledge notes

Berks, M., & Breitung, C., & Engelberth, S., & Richards, J.

Between concepts and reality: How to deal with armed groups in transition phases of violent conflict?

bicc , Bonn (2022)

Open
bicc Policy brief

Acharya, N., & Bayer, M., & Breitung, C., & Mutschler, M., & Wagner, K.

Kleinwaffengrundsätze in einem Rüstungsexportkontrollgesetz verankern! Den kompletten Produktzyklus von Kleinwaffen von Produktion bis Vernichtung einbeziehen

BICC , Bonn (2022)

Open

Other publications

Berks, M., & Breitung, C., & Richards, J., & Tonn, A.

The evolving nature of DDR. Study on engaging armed groups across the peace continuum

UN Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) & BICC (2021)

Open

bicc Policy brief

Breitung, C.

Why there is a need to reframe the discourse on armed groups in Mali: Requirements for successful disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration

BICC , Bonn (2019)

Open

bicc Policy brief

Breitung, C.

South Sudan’s stalled peace process—security arrangements in need of adjustment

BICC , Bonn (2017)

Open

bicc Working paper

Breitung, C., & Paes, W., & van de Vondervoort, L.

In need of a critical re-think: Security sector reform in South Sudan

BICC , Bonn (2016)

Open
bicc Working paper

Breitung, C.

Evaluation of the MSAG/IPSTC train-the-trainer project in physical security and stockpile management

BICC , Bonn (2016)

Open