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Development Dimensions of Conflict Prevention And Peace-Building

Author: B Wood
Date: 2001
Size: 56 pages (183 KB)

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Summary

Despite lessons learned and periodic policy and programme adjustments, the overall performance by the international system in conflict situations remains weak and inconsistent. This paper, published by the United Nations Development Programme, discusses the link between conflict and development and recommends concrete ways in which development cooperation can respond to conflict most effectively. Development processes need to give primacy to the internal dynamics and potential of societies they assist and recognise both the contributions and limitations of the assistance they provide.

International actors in conflict prevention and peace-building situations face increasingly common states of protracted conflict and instability, complex global influences and lack of clear outcomes. They also face tough questions about how to act in certain conflict situations and shifting political priorities about whether to act. In addition, political and economic interests often prevail, despite the laudable objectives of building peace and preventing conflict.

The development perspective recognises that the goal is not the illusory ambition of trying to prevent conflict altogether, but to prevent the slide into violent conflict. Peace-building should not aspire to impart solutions for people in affected countries, but to help them strengthen their capacity to create their own solutions. Development cooperation needs to improve its flexibility and practices in order to recognise its limits and maximise its contributions.

Specific areas of development assistance that link development to conflict prevention and peace-building include, inter alia, economic development, improved governance and public participation, strengthening the rule of law and respect for culture and identity.

There are several situations that development cooperation can encounter in conflict-affected countries. These situations range from “normal” through conflict-prone, rising tensions and violent conflict to transitions to peace and restoration of development. Each situation calls for different a set of development responses.

Development cooperation could enhance its impact and effectiveness by conducting thorough, consistent assessments keyed to specific country situations. Such an assessment should include:

Analysis of the situation and needs for international support;
Identification of what types of development and other forms of assistance are appropriate and should have priority in the specific type of situation;
Assessment of what types of relationship prevail within the country and among the variety of international actors who are likely to be involved;
Acceptance that there are no simple formulas in these complex situations and that hard choices need to be identified and confronted.

All partners in development need to recall the guiding principles of development cooperation that provide the foundation for effective development policies and programmes:

Maximise indigenous ownership; minimise dependency by supporting local capacity-building.
Maintain engagement and trust; avoid making promises of aid that cannot be delivered or sustained.
Seek to redress the dangers of violent conflict and mitigate its results; work for respect for human rights.
Preserve a commitment to development values and goals; strengthen coordination and coherence with other external actors.
Improve responsiveness and flexibility; learn about specific country situations, lessons learned and good development practices elsewhere.
Promote development-friendly policies and practices in fields beyond traditional development assistance, such as trade, finance and international crime-fighting, which impact upon development and peace-building.

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Source: Wood, B., 2001, 'Development Dimensions of Conflict Prevention And Peace-Building', Independent study prepared for the Emergency Response Division, United Nations Development Program, New York
Author: Bernard Wood , bwood@magma.ca