The role of the private sector in different aspects of conflict resolution has received increasing attention. This is due to several factors. First, the private sector, domestic or multinational, is often present in contexts of armed conflict and exposed to its risks and impacts, which frequently compel it to act. Second, it has the capacities (human, resources, managerial and ...» 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.
Non-Governmental Actors in Peace Processes: The Case of Aceh
This paper looks into the role of nongovernmental actors in peace processes, utilizing the case of Aceh as a tool for an analysis. The paper produces some tentative hypotheses on the role of non-governmental third parties in peace processes.Southeast Asian (neorealist and constructivist) scholarship on peace and conflicts often assume the natural monopoly of states as agents in ...» more
Partial Peace Rebel Groups Inside and Outside Civil War Settlements
Previous research proposes that peace is more likely to be durable if all rebel groups are included in the settlement reached. This argument implies that if actors are excluded and continue to pursue the military course, this could have a destabilizing effect on the actors that have signed an agreement.This theoretical argument is tested using data on the conflict behaviour of ...» more
Religion in world affairs: Its role in conflict and peace
This report seeks to demonstrate the nature of the religious dimension of international conflict, which is sometimes neglected, often misunderstood, and frequently exaggerated. It also illustrates how religious leaders have addressed conflict and injustices confronting their societies. Religious leaders have employed a variety of peacemaking techniques, ranging from mediation ...» more
Using quantitative and qualitative models to forecast instability
This report discusses the principles according to which one should or should not combine quantitative models and structural analogies in forecasting political instability. The goal is not to promote one method or the other, but to describe how using both methods in the most appropriate manner can yield superior forecasts.Key findings:Preventing violent conflict requires early ...» more
Resource–conflict links in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
This paper investigates the peacebuilding potential of resource-governance strategies adopted in and towards mining sectors in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It introduces three analytical perspectives on the links between resources and conflict.Mining has been responsible for much of these countries’ post-colonial growth, but also for their ...» more
Ending violent conflict and building a social compact
This book chapter states that the social compact is integral to people’s perception of justice and to their realisation of citizenship. It argues that a viable social compact is one in which the state acts to reduce people’s risks – through law and order, services and infrastructure – in return for their commitment to the state (including a willingness to finance it through ...» more
Social media and postelection crisis in Kenya
This article analyses the role of the media during the two months of postelection crisis in 2008 in Kenya. After presidential election results were announced and disputed, the government banned live news broadcasts for five days. The paper discusses how people exchanged information during and after the media ban, and analyses online discussions and media coverage. It argues ...» more
Power, mutual accountability and responsibility in the practice of international aid: A relational approach
This paper takes a fresh look at current efforts to strengthen mutual accountability in international aid relations. It concludes with some practical steps that aid agencies could immediately start to take to encourage mutual responsibility.The paper asks “What additional possibilities become available when we conceptualise aid as a field of interdependent and dynamic relations ...» more
Conflict-Sensitive Approach to Infrastructure Development
This U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) Special Report presents a model that links the infrastructure cycle with conflict analysis. This model is helpful to focus the attention of the infrastructure program planners and implementers on the conflict cycle. In many instances, infrastructure experts approach problems from an engineering perspective. While this view is important, it ...» more
Joint Evaluation of Citizens’ Voice and Accountability: Synthesis Report
This paper seeks to deepen understanding of what works and what does not work in donor support to CV&A interventions, and to uncover the reasons why.In the first phase of evaluation, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) prepared a literature review, conducted an analysis of 90 Citizens’ Voice and Accountability (CV&A) donor interventions, developed an Evaluation Framework ...» more
Do No Harm in Somalia
In 2006, the Do No Harm Project of CDA Collaborative Learning Projects (CDA) set out to determine how Do No Harm (DNH) was being used in the world and whether that use was leading to more effective programming decisions. While DNH is widely utilised in some countries, it has not taken hold in others, such as Somalia. The mission of this study was to understand why. Could it be ...» more
Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Social Protection: Complementary Roles in Agriculture and Rural Growth?
This study examines the opportunities for linking social protection, climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the context of agriculture and rural growth, exploring whether linking these three approaches together will help enhance resilience to shocks and stresses in agriculture-dependent rural communities. The study does this by: (i) reviewing ...» more
Market approaches that work for development: How the private sector can contribute to poverty reduction
This book is a synthesis of market approaches to development that have worked and provides the lessons learned from seven case studies from around the world. It discusses the challenging roles of development agencies as facilitators who should act in support of the private sector rather than in place of it. Key Findings: As soon as it pays for retailers, wholesalers and ...» more
Cash transfers, gender and generational relations: Evidence from a pilot project in Lesotho
Food aid has been the main response to repeated and protracted humanitarian crises in Lesotho since 2002. As part of World Vision’s emergency responses, it is implementing a pilot cash transfer programme in two districts in Lesotho – Maseru and Mohale’s Hoek. This paper reports the findings of fieldwork with cash, food, cash and food beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, using a ...» more
Perspectives on Demobilisation, Reintegration and Weapons Control in the El Salvador Peace Process
This chapter is a personal reflection on the peace settlement process between the government of Alfredo Cristiani and leaders of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) to end the civil war in El Salvador. The author was a member of the FMLN until 1996 and was involved in dialogue and negotiation to end the civil war, discussions on the demilitarisation of society, ...» more
Civil Service and Administrative Reform: Thematic Paper
This background paper to the IEG’s evaluation of the World Bank’s support for public sector reform presents the thematic analysis for the administrative and civil service area. Based on the evidence reviewed, generally CSA reform efforts have not been successful. In many cases this can be attributed to challenging political environments, and cultural barriers such as ...» more
Security and justice: measuring the development returns – A review of knowledge
This paper reviews the state of knowledge on the role of security and justice (S&J) in the development process. It presents available evidence and assessing the state of knowledge, describing the methodological challenges and how they are being addressed, and proposing areas for further research. The purpose is to enable donors to gain a better understanding of the returns ...» more
Failed Responsibility: Iraqi Refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon
This report argues that, in managing the problem of the refugee wave that has washed over Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, and severely strained these resource-poor states, the international community and the Iraq government have failed in their responsibilities. The refugees have confronted distressing conditions, as savings dwindled, and hosts toughened policies. Host countries ...» more
Empowering commercial actors: Outsourcing of humanitarian and development services in international peace operations and post-war settings
Governments, donors, NGOs and commercial companies are increasingly becoming part of the same political project: to assist countries in the transition from war to peace. The blurring of the lines between war and post-war settings has expanded the scope of activity by commercial actors. This paper explores the increased outsourcing of humanitarian and, in particular, development ...» more
