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Key Text Conducting Conflict Assessments: Aid, Conflict and Peace Building in Sri Lanka

Author: J Goodhand
Date: 2001
Size: 127 pages (810 KB)

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Summary

Donors increasingly recognise the need to understand better the links between development, conflict and poverty, and to design programmes that address the roots of conflict. This report for the Conflict, Security and Development Group at the University of London analyses how donors could improve their strategies in Sri Lanka, where violent conflict has prevented the country from reaching its potential.

While the high-profile conflict between Tamil rebels and government forces was concentrated in the northeast of Sri Lanka, the whole island has been affected by militarised violence. Conflict has incurred huge costs in terms of physical, financial, human and social capital. Yet most aid donors have not adequately considered the interaction between their work and conflict. In countries like Sri Lanka, ignoring conflict or regarding it as a disruptive factor to be avoided can exacerbate tensions. There is a growing trend, particularly among bilateral donors, to explore the possibilities of reducing or managing conflict. The donor community should learn from positive examples where aid has supported reconciliation processes, and incorporate these lessons into mainstream practice.

The key challenge for donors is to make their assistance more sensitive to conflict, while amplifying the benefits of aid with a focus on conflict reduction. The report identifies four factors that are important for working effectively in and on conflict:

Integrating conflict sensitivity. This includes developing a more balanced approach to reform and transition processes, placing greater focus on social safety nets and equity, and addressing regional imbalances.
A politically informed approach. Donors should analyse the political system and incentives of political actors, using this information to influence choice and design of programmes.
A co-ordinated and comprehensive approach. Existing instruments should be put to optimal use. Donors should aim to make their mechanisms more complementary and to develop strategic co-ordination.
Long-term strategic engagement. Donors recognise the need for such an approach, yet mandates and funding remain short term. They should switch from supporting projects to sustaining strategies and processes.

A set of policy options is outlined for development actors in Sri Lanka. It is argued that the international community should pay more political attention to the conflict, and that donor governments should work to co-ordinate arrangements and share information. Other recommendations for donors include:

Developing a tighter form of aid co-ordination within a strategic framework approach. Models used elsewhere should be examined for their applicability to Sri Lanka, and current initiatives assessed.
Developing a more co-ordinated and pro-active approach to lobbying on conflict, humanitarian and human rights concerns.
Becoming more sensitive to conflict issues (particularly larger agencies). Donors must determine what this means in practice for programmes.
Learning from the work of agencies operating in the northeast. Their efforts to develop codes of conduct frameworks to ensure they do no harm and an aid ombudsman are relevant to agencies in the south.
Amplifying the impact of programmes that focus on peacebuilding and reconciliation. This includes strengthening initiatives to build a legitimate and responsive state, and encouraging more open political debate.
Developing strategies, processes and linkages instead of focusing on projects. Donors should map and assess the impact of current initiatives to draw out their lessons. They should also share their conflict analysis.

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Source: Goodhand, J., 2001, 'Aid, Conflict and Peace Building in Sri Lanka', Conflict Assessments, Security and Development Group, University of London, London.
Author: Jonathan Goodhand , jonathangoodhand@aol.com
Conflict, Security and Development Group, King’s College London (CSDG), http://csdg.kcl.ac.uk/index.html