This article notes that conventional security promotion activities such as disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR) are often ineffective because the political, economic and social circumstances on the ground are not yet favourable. This is especially the case in early post-conflict settings when ceasefires and peace agreements have ...» more
Library
This e-library contains more than 4500 external publications on governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian issues. It includes academic and grey literature selected for its basis in good quality research and coverage of a range of perspectives. Policy-oriented summaries of each document are provided, plus links to the full text.
Innovative aid instruments and flexible financing: providing better support to fragile states
This paper presents evidence, analysis and evaluation of the use of aid instruments in fragile states, based on a literature review and questionnaire responses from members of the OECD International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Working Group on Aid Instruments. It highlights the importance of factors including: a mix of aid instruments (based on context); aid ...» more
Humanitarian space: a review of trends and issues
There appears to be an overwhelming consensus among humanitarian actors that humanitarian space is contracting. This report reviews key trends and issues affecting humanitarian space over the last decade. It argues that the discourse of ‘shrinking’ humanitarian space, to which the solution is simply greater adherence to principles, is not borne out by the evidence. It is in ...» more
Examining the role of WASH services within peace- and state- building processes: findings from Tearfund programmes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of South Sudan
This research focuses on Tearfund’s water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions implemented through the ‘Capacity Building to Improve Humanitarian Action in the Water Sanitation and Hygiene’ programme. The programme aims to increase the capacity of Tearfund Operational Teams, local partner projects and local government departments in conflict-affected and ...» more
Comparing a Problem-Solving Workshop to a Conflict Assessment Framework: Conflict Analysis Versus Conflict Assessment in Practice
The fields of peacebuilding and development continue to operate differently in diagnosing destructive intergroup conflicts, as demonstrated by conflict analysis methods versus conflict assessment frameworks. This article juxtaposes conflict analysis, as illustrated by a problem-solving workshop on the Cyprus conflict, with a specialised conflict assessment workshop on an ...» more
Blurring of Lines in Complex Emergencies: Consequences for the Humanitarian Community
This article discusses the increasing blurring of lines between humanitarian actors, foreign troops engaged in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, and donor states pursuing national security and stabilisation. In several complex emergencies with foreign troops on the ground there has also been a sharp increase in violence against humanitarian workers, in absolute numbers ...» more
A Child-Sensitive Approach to Social Protection: Serving Practical and Strategic Needs
Social protection is increasingly considered a development success story. At the same time, it still does too little to account for social differentiation and to address vulnerability, as opposed to poverty. Child sensitive social protection (CSSP) has gained considerable momentum, particularly in a developing country context, raising questions about its concept and practical ...» more
Power and Fragility: Governance Programming in Fragile Contexts: A Programme Resource
This guide is based on work by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). It draws on power and political economy analysis, and other research, undertaken in Rwanda, Myanmar, Yemen and Angola. The guide is written for Oxfam Country Directors and Programme Managers and aims to provide practical support in the design and management of governance programmes. It provides guidance ...» more
Decentralized Service Delivery in Nairobi and Mombasa: Policies, politics and inter-governmental relations
In many African countries, decentralisation has long been viewed as a means for improving local service delivery. Yet, despite various decentralisation initiatives, poor service delivery continues to be problematic in two of Kenya’s largest cities, Nairobi and Mombasa. Despite various governance reforms to enhance Kenya’s decentralisation process, backed up by constitutional ...» more
Dangerous liaisons? A historical review of UNHCR’s engagement with non-state armed actors
The actions of non-state armed actors (NSAAs) have received significant attention in recent years, especially with regard to how their presence in the field impacts humanitarian space. However, NSAAs are not new, nor are they the only parties responsible for violence against humanitarian workers.This report reviews UNHCR’s history of engagement with NSAAs over the past 30 ...» more
Is School Education Breaking the Cycle of Poverty for Children?: Factors Shaping Education Inequalities in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam
School education is held up as an ‘escape route from poverty’. Millions of poor children and families are buying into this promise and often investing scarce resources in going to school, in the hope that it will lead to a better life. This paper looks at children’s unequal trajectories from early childhood through to the time they leave school, examining how various factors ...» more
Gendered Impacts of Globalization: Employment and Social Protection
The last three decades have seen remarkable changes in economic structures and policies both within and across countries, loosely captured by the term globalization. This paper reviews evidence on how key aspects of globalization processes have impacted the real economy, in terms of employment and social conditions of work for women and men across a wide range of ...» more
2012 Education for All Global Monitoring Report
The 2012 Education for All Global Monitoring Report examines how skills development programmes can be improved to boost young people’s opportunities for decent jobs and better lives. This report evaluates progress towards the six education for all (EFA) goals, and shows that progress towards many of the goals is slowing down.Most EFA goals are unlikely to be met by 2015. ...» more
Born Equal: How reducing inequality could give our children a better future
This report looks at how, despite major strides made towards poverty reduction and towards achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs), increasing inequality in many countries in the last two decades has hampered greater progress. It outlines how some countries – through proven policies and interventions – have managed to reduce gross inequalities and deliver better ...» more
United Nations Guidance for Effective Mediation
Mediation is one of the most effective methods of preventing, managing and resolving conflicts. To be effective, however, a mediation process requires more than the appointment of a high-profile individual to act as a third party. Antagonists often need to be persuaded of the merits of mediation, and peace processes must be well-supported politically, technically and ...» more
Dangerous tales: Dominant narratives on the Congo and their unintended consequences
Explanations for the persistence of violence in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo blame the incendiary actions of domestic and regional leaders, as well as the inefficacy of international peace-building efforts. Based on several years of ethnographic research, this article adds another piece to the puzzle, emphasizing the perverse consequences of well-meaning ...» more
New Ways to End Old Wars
This report summarises a meeting of 50 practitioners, policymakers and academics, convened by independent peacebuilding organisation Conciliation Resources, to discuss new and innovative ways of dealing with protracted armed conflicts and preventing violence. A consensus emerged during the seminar that the negotiation table should not be the only pillar, or even the main pillar ...» more
Preventive Diplomacy and Conflict Prevention: Obstacles and Opportunities
Preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention and other forms of preventive action intended to stop armed conflicts before they escalate to widespread violence are the subject of intense debate. And despite their elevation to a norm in the United Nations, challenges include coordination and quality control, nuanced decentralisation of preventive action, and availability of ...» more
Women’s entrepreneurship development initiatives in Lebanon: micro-achievements and macro-gaps
In the aftermath of the Lebanese civil war, as part of their efforts to rebuild the national economy, many donor agencies and non-government organisations increased their efforts to support the goal of women's economic empowerment. However, the share of women-owned businesses in Lebanon has remained low, and women are mostly still limited to work in marginalised sectors of the ...» more
What are the economic impacts of conditional cash transfer programmes? A systematic review of the evidence
The review finds strong evidence that CCTs could lead to a rise in overall household consumption, increase investment in productive assets, reduce child labour and increase school attendance. The evidence on the impact of CCTs on adult labour is mixed. There is only limited evidence of spillover effects within communities in terms of poverty reduction. The review includes 46 ...» more
