What is the name of your organization?
Corioli Institute
What is the name of your solution?
Combat to Commerce (C2C)
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Human-centered, systems-level economic development transforming violence-affected communities through environmentally sustainable solutions.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Dumfries, VA, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
USA
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Our Combat-to-Commerce (C2C) model responds to the systemic failure to reintegrate formerly armed actors (FAAs) (e.g., veterans, ex-combatants) and other conflict-affected individuals into socioeconomic life, a critical barrier to sustainable prosperity that perpetuates cycles of violence. In Colombia, for example, over 13,000 demobilized FARC combatants and 200,000+ coca-growing families remain trapped in economic insecurity, leading to a 24% increase in coca cultivation since 2021 and leaving 5.1 million people internally displaced.
This pattern repeats across conflict zones in Sudan (100,000 paramilitary forces, 7.5 million displaced), Ukraine (anticipated 5m veterans, 3.7m displaced), and Somalia (10,000 former al Shabaab, 4m displaced) where traditional reintegration programs invest over $1 billion annually yet deliver poor economic returns—focusing on short-term aid rather than market integration. FAAs' transition to productive economic participation is thwarted by market barriers, fragmented supply chains, and broken trust networks.
FAAs represent both untapped (in)security experts and potential security threats if marginalized. Their exclusion costs billions in lost productivity and renewed conflict, while their inclusion offers tremendous potential for economic revitalization. Critically, when FAAs' most marketable skill remains their ability to bear arms and sustainable alternatives are unavailable, they become highly vulnerable to re-recruitment, perpetuating violence and economic instability.
What is your solution?
Combat-to-Commerce (C2C) is a market-integrated reintegration model that transforms former fighters and conflict-affected communities through a systematic five-phase approach: (1) community-led research and relationship building, (2) multi-sector coalition building, (3) participatory planning, (4) phased implementation, and (5) commercial sustainability development.
Unlike conventional disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) models that treat formerly armed actors as security risks, C2C recognizes them as essential partners with unique insights into both producing insecurity and emerging from it. The model integrates six interconnected components: conflict-resilient operations, modular implementation, security-aware training, market-embedded alternatives, community-led governance, and policy integration.
C2C operates through "radical participation" and a "zero-waste philosophy" where every dollar serves community-identified priorities. The solution varies by context—from hydroponic agriculture in Colombia to women's oyster cooperatives in Mexico—developed through partnerships with local climate scientists and agricultural experts.
The methodology creates redundant supply chains with backup buyer systems, discreet community-based training methods, and localized safety protocols. By democratizing funding structures and prioritizing local leadership, C2C transforms reintegration from a transitional phase into an investment in long-term economic stability and social cohesion.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
C2C serves those marginalized by conflict: FAAs, conflict-affected civilians, and communities caught in cycles of violence and economic exclusion. These populations are typically viewed as security threats or passive aid recipients rather than potential economic contributors.
For FAAs, C2C transforms their lived experience into sources of security-building expertise, reducing re-recruitment vulnerability by providing sustainable alternatives to violence. Conflict-affected civilians gain pathways to recover from displacement and trauma through dignified livelihoods and trauma-informed approaches to building social cohesion.
Our solution creates inclusive, multi-sector economic ecosystems where previously antagonistic groups collaborate in market-integrated enterprises. The model addresses both immediate needs and structural barriers through dual-focus interventions:
1. Economic participation: Upskilling communities to sustainably manage common resources and connect to licit markets through alternative value chains
2. Social reintegration: Rebuilding trust through shared economic purpose and inclusive governance systems
In Colombia, our pilot demonstrated transformative outcomes: 165 participants achieved a $1,800 monthly income, women occupied 58% of leadership roles, and 89% engaged in community governance. Beyond income, participants report renewed dignity and purpose, shifting identities from "combatants" to "providers" and "leaders." From Mexico to Ukraine, C2C works to deliver what traditional reintegration programs often fail to provide: economic agency and restored social belonging.
