NISPED was founded in 1998 and is a non-profit association which promotes peace and development, focusing on the centrality of the civil society. NISPED serves as a center for education, training and project development for societies in transition:

From conflict to conflict resolution
From oppressive systems of governing to democracies with human rights
From poverty and dependence to social and economic advance
From minority exclusion to minority inclusion

NISPED includes three major divisions:

AJEEC – The Arab-Jewish Center for Equality, Empowerment and Cooperation which focuses on the Arab citizens of Israel and Jewish-Arab relations.
NISPED Middle East – through people to people processes, the division focuses on conflict resolution, economic empowerment and education for peace in the Middle East.
NISPED Cooperative Development – focuses on sustainable human development, economic empowerment and the promotion and development of cooperatives in Israel and developing countries.