Markus Mayer is Head of the Competence Center for Crisis Response and Peacebuilding within GIZ’s Governance and Conflict Department, providing thematic leadership for the design of programs, methodologies, and approaches in key areas such as conflict sensitivity, peacebuilding, transitional aid, disaster risk management, climate security, forced displacement, and migration governance. Previously, he served as International Alert’s Asia Director, overseeing peacebuilding work in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka. He also worked for the South Asia Institute at Heidelberg University as Resident Representative to Sri Lanka, promoting academic collaboration and research. For more than 25 years, he has focused on the socio-economic dimensions of conflict, peace process management, diaspora engagement, and business-for-peace initiatives. He holds a PhD from Heidelberg University on youth, conflict, and development planning. 

He is a member of FriEnt’s Steering Committee, representing GIZ.