Can the actions of Humanitarian Agencies (HA) go beyond the provision of emergency assistance and contribute to long-term solutions? Current practice, based on reactive and short-term programmes, makes successful interventions more difficult. It also rules out any possibility for planning to make a long-term impact on the underlying causes of conflict. This document by International Alert summarises current debates on conflict, aid and peacebuilding and suggests possible actions to enhance the long-term impact of humanitarian assistance. Based on the organisation’s experience and consultations with key stakeholders, it also introduces policy recommendations for actors involved in emergency interventions.
If humanitarian assistance is to make a long-term impact on the underlying causes of conflict a new approach to emergency interventions is needed. ‘Conflict sensitivity’ is the capacity of an organisation to: (i) understand the context (conflict) in which it works, (ii) understand the interaction between its intervention and the conflict and (iii) its capacity to act accordingly and avoid any negative impacts whilst maximising the positive effects its intervention may have. This new approach is based on a widening of the concept of human security on which humanitarian assistance is based. All threats to the survival, daily life and dignity of human beings are included. At present, post September 11th concerns of security, mostly associated with terrorism, are constraining both the policy and practice of humanitarian assistance.
Incorporating a conflict sensitive approach to Humanitarian Agencies’ planning and programming can contribute to long-term peacebuilding efforts without putting at risk the perception of neutrality and independence so relevant for HA. Other findings suggest that a conflict sensitive approach:
- Requires HA to address policy, operations and capacity challenges. Issues such as: conflicting government agendas, diversion of aid to belligerents and loss of institutional memory constrain the positive impact of HA interventions.
- Promotes HA to advocate for more comprehensive policies at an earlier stage. Humanitarian assistance can move from short-term reactive responses to more proactive and long-term efforts.
- Requires more systematic information gathering and organisational learning from past experience. Having a sound understanding of the root causes and dynamics of the conflict can lead to more adequate interventions.
- Calls for HA to make donors and international governments aware of the damaging impact of conflict on great numbers of people. Advocacy efforts can complement operations, securing funding and political support.
Humanitarian Agencies depend on donor policy and resource decisions to develop their work. If they are to successfully engage in peace-building efforts, higher levels of Donor – HA consultations are needed. Other recommendations suggest that donors need to:
- Develop a co-ordinated approach to conflict analysis and policy design.
- Implement and evaluate a conflict sensitive approach. It is important that conflict transformation goals are mainstreamed in intervention strategies.
- Support the development of conflict sensitivity within Humanitarian Agencies.
- Promote within different government agencies the development of a coherent policy towards target countries. The impact on conflict of diplomatic, military, trade and aid policies need to be assessed as a whole.
- Develop downward accountability and closer bonds with NGOs and legitimate local civil society organisations to enable stronger local ownership of the process.
