This paper provides a background study of the implications of peacebuilding and statebuilding in United Nations mandates. Multidimensional missions, especially those that extend state authority or have explicit protection of civilian tasks, have raised fundamental questions about the purpose of peacekeeping, its limits, and the appropriate use of international resources. Key ...» 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.
Children and conflict in a changing world
This report aims to heighten understanding of the many ways in which armed conflict affects children – and how children regard their participation not only in war but in programmes aimed at preventing violence against them and in promoting their recovery and reintegration. The report frames its findings within three categories: political and diplomatic actions and ...» more
Why Do Soldiers Rape? Masculinity, Violence, and Sexuality in the Armed Forces in the Congo (DRC)
This article explores the ways soldiers in the Congo speak about the massive amount of rape committed by the armed forces in the recent war in the DRC. It focuses on the reasons that the soldiers give to why rape occurs. It discusses how the soldiers distinguish between 'lust rapes' and 'evil rapes' and argues that their explanations of rape must be understood in relation to ...» more
A mixed-method approach to measuring empowerment in the context of social policy monitoring in Jamaica
This paper describes the pilot of a mixed-method research instrument designed to measure the empowerment impact of social policy. Research was conducted in three working-class communities in Jamaica (two urban and one rural) to determine young people‘s sense of empowerment in their relations with the police. The project used two instruments to generate data: (i) a Community ...» more
Gender Dimensions of the Extractive Industries: Mining for Equity
This publication explores how men and women are differently impacted by the extractive industries (EI), and the implications of this on the sustainable development of their communities, as well as on the profitability of extractive industry operations themselves. The publication explores the gender dimensions of EI in terms of: employment and income; environment; community ...» more
Public Policy for Conflict-Sensitive Business
The aim of this report is to identify public policy options by which governments and international organisations can better assist private sector efforts to promote effective conflict-sensitive business practices, and do so in ways that make a demonstrable contribution to sustainable peace in the countries where companies invest and operate. This report assesses the ...» more
Aid for Peace: A handbook for applying peace & conflict impact assessment (PCIA) to Peace III projects
The handbook builds from on-going conversations and collaborations with a wide range of friends and colleagues around the world. It is written for individuals, communities and organisations that are working in, or planning to work in, areas affected by violent conflict (or that are at risk of becoming violent). It has been written to help practitioners “do” an assessment that: ...» more
Do No Harm and Peacebuilding: Five Lessons
The Do No Harm Project (DNH), which began in the 1990s, was not designed for peacebuilding interventions, and yet over the course of the project it has successfully been applied to local peacebuilding initiatives in a variety of contexts. This paper explores those situations where DNH and peacebuilding have worked well together, as well as where they have not. It is based on ...» more
A Distinction with a Difference: Conflict Sensitivity and Peacebuilding
This paper explores the difference between peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity and if a distinction matters in practice. It examines the damage done by the conceptual confusion and proposes distinct definitions and parameters for programme implementation that may lead to more effective peacebuilding and conflict sensitive practice. The article relies upon literature and ...» more
Conflict Sensitivity Consortium Benchmarking Paper
This paper was developed by members of the Conflict Sensitivity Consortium, in the inception phase of the DFID-funded project “Conflict Sensitivity – Concept to Impact”. It sets out the different interpretations of the concept of conflict sensitivity, in order to provoke discussion amongst the consortium members and build consensus. This desk review focuses solely on global ...» more
Impacts of Climate Change on Livelihoods: What are the Implications for Social Protection?
This paper explores how rural agricultural livelihoods in Ethiopia may be impacted by potential climate changes. It then considers the consequences and opportunities arising from this, focusing on how social protection may support the poorest and most vulnerable in adapting to the changing climate. Using a livelihoods framework, the paper draws upon a case study of Ethiopia’s ...» more
A Resource Guide to Corporate Human Rights Reporting
While a growing number of tools related to human rights and business provide useful guidance for companies, most do not provide detailed information on human rights reporting. This guide aims to fill that gap and contribute to a clearer understanding of why human rights reporting matters, what stakeholders expect from a report, how to approach certain challenges in reporting ...» more
Synthesis of evaluations on support to business development
This study on the business sector provides an overview of evaluation findings, studies and research on performance, lessons learned and evidence for effective development cooperation. The overall purpose is to show experiences of support to the business sector. There are three major types of interventions: (1) interventions aimed at creating an enabling environment, for example ...» more
Global Monitoring Checklist on Women, Peace and Security
The Global Monitoring Checklist on Women, Peace and Security is a pilot project that aims to contribute in a small way towards the international understanding on women, peace and security efforts. It does so by highlighting examples of activities to support UNSCR 1325 at the local and national level by women, civil society, national governments and the international ...» more
Elections and Conflict Prevention: A Guide to Analysis, Planning and Programming
This UNDP guide is designed as a knowledge product for practitioners in the field of governance and electoral assistance. It identifies strategic approaches and forms of programming that can help to anticipate and prevent the types of violent conflict that frequently accompany elections and set back development in emerging democracies or post-war societies. Entry points and ...» more
The impact of conditional cash transfer programmes on child nutrition: a review of evidence using a programme theory framework
Millions of children worldwide, particularly in low and middle income countries, suffer from nutritional deficiencies affecting their survival, health, development, and well-being. Targeted nutrition interventions to improve this situation include breastfeeding promotion, behaviour change and communication strategies to improve complementary feeding practices, supplementation ...» more
Jonglei’s Tribal Conflicts: Countering Insecurity in South Sudan
Conflicts among tribes have claimed several thousand lives in South Sudan in 2009, with the worst violence in and around the vast, often impassable state of Jonglei. Violence often afflicts pastoral communities, but in this area it has taken on a new and dangerously politicised character. With the death toll over the past year exceeding that in Darfur and displacement affecting ...» more
Reconstructing Masculinities: The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration of Former Combatants in Colombia
A key component of peace processes and post-conflict reconstruction is the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of ex-combatants. This article argues that DDR programs imply multiple transitions: from the combatants who lay down their weapons, to the governments that seek an end to armed conflict, to the communities that receive—or reject—these demobilized ...» more
Learning the Right Lessons from Mozambique’s Transition to Peace
After sixteen years of civil conflict, Mozambique experienced a successful transition to peace, despite numerous social, political, and economic conditions that were not conducive to peace or democracy. This essay explores the reasons for this successful outcome. It argues that, in Mozambique and elsewhere, scholars have tended to overlook the role of bilateral donors in ...» more
DDR 2008: Analysis of Disarmament, Demobilization and reintegration (DDR) Programmes in the world in 2007
All peace-building processes related to armed conflict must go through a final stage in which, after the signing of agreements, combatants surrender their arms, demilitarise, and reintegrate into civil life. This complex process is called the DDR of ex-combatants. DDR is part of broader agreements over justice, police reform, the restructuring of armed forces, elections, ...» more
