1998-2001: Consolidation

By the late 1990s new organisations focused on conflict-related issues started to emerge, further pushing the issues of internal conflict on to the international political agenda. After a period of reflection upon profound events, Alert would go through a process of evaluation and learning that was in keeping with the growing scale of its ambitions and funding. Alert re launched itself and created the groundbreaking Code of Conduct to provide principles which would guide the organisation in the pursuit of its future objectives.

‘[Alert’s] increasing involvement with conflict prevention and resolution must be seen as part of a wider process whereby such activities have become an important and rapidly expanding area for aid agencies’, wrote the Christian Michelsen Institute in its first donor evaluation of a conflict prevention NGO in 1997. ‘It has largely inspired the entry of NGOs into this area of work’. The report provided some tough criticism of Alert’s recent work in Sierra Leone, as well as praise for its work in the Great Lakes.

Under the new leadership of Kevin Clements, who joined the organisation in early 1999, Alert strove to deepen its understanding of how it could best contribute to the peacebuilding sector. This increased professionalism also helped ensure legitimacy and accountability in a growing field of conflict resolution. To that end, the organisation created its Code of Conduct in 1998, providing an ethical framework for those involved in conflict transformation work.

Business and security

The new world order created new questions for international policy-makers, which encouraged Alert to deepen the synergy between its policy and peacebuilding work on the ground. Its advocacy and thematic programmes looked at the inclusion of women in peacebuilding, the role of humanitarian agencies and the EU in addressing conflict, preventative diplomacy and early warning, as well as conflict resolution training. In addition, two initiatives focused on the role of business in conflict and the issue of small arms.

A new area for Alert concentrated on the economic dimension of internal conflict and how businesses could contribute to conflict prevention rather than escalation. Started in 1999, the programme explored the accountability, responsibility, and peacebuilding capacity of multinational companies, in particular those involved in oil, gas and mining. The programme quickly grew a sound expertise, expanding to different regions across the globe, including Azerbaijan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. It would later expand its focus to include local business initiatives as well. In 2000 the programme co-published The Business of Peace, a report which followed extensive research and consultation with the business community, governments and NGOs, and drew upon Alert’s field experience in Azerbaijan.

Another programme focusing on security issues provided high level advocacy to the UN. By this time Alert had become one of the leading organisations working for control of small arms and light weapons. It not only started the well-known umbrella organisation IANSA (the International Action Network on Small Arms), but it had significant involvement in the development of Biting the Bullet, a partnership of organisations to monitor the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons. This programme grew to examine privatisation of security and security sector reform, conducting a multi-country mapping and assessment throughout many regions of the world. In 2002, Alert published a study, Security Sector Reform; The Challenges and Opportunities of the Privatisation of Security.

Investing in regional programmes

At the turn of the century, Alert continued to strengthen its areas of existing work in the Great Lakes region of Africa, Sri Lanka, West Africa and the Caucasus. In Sri Lanka, the programme shifted focus to achieve its objectives through a low profile, facilitating role with effective local partners. The ‘Cost of War’ project helped to increase awareness of not only the economic cost of the Sri Lankan conflict but also the human and social cost. Another important milestone was Alert’s facilitation of a visit from a Sri Lankan cross-party group to Northern Ireland and the Philippines, which enabled discussions about developing a common negotiating strategy.

The West Africa regional programme was formalised in 1997 and continued to work with religious leaders and the Liberian media around the elections. Alert contributed to the development of a peacebuilding constituency in the Mano River area involving civil society groups. It also supported ECOWAS (The Economic Community of West African States) which included regional initiatives to prevent violent conflict as a key aim alongside its original mandate of economic integration.

Alert’s work in the former Soviet Union continued in 1999, with the bulk of its work in Georgia and Abkhazia. By bringing various group to the table through the Caucasus NGO Forum, it was possible to open a space for dialogue where none existed before. Through this period of consolidation, Alert’s resolve and willingness to change fuelled a quiet and managed growth. A more certain organisation would emerge, well-positioned to continue leading the way in peacebuilding. Yet there would be even more challenges for Alert as the global context changed once again following 9/11.

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Last updated: July 2006

■ International Alert publishes its Code of Conduct, the first of its kind in the peacebuilding sector.

■ ‘Women Building Peace’ campaign launches to highlight women’s contribution to peacebuilding.

■ The Caucasus NGO Forum is created to build confidence between the sides of the Georgia/ Abkhazia conflict.

■ Kevin Clements becomes Secretary General.

■ IANSA, the International Action Network on Small Arms, is formed by Alert.

■ Alert, Saferworld and BASIC develop the ‘Biting the Bullet’ project to influence the outcome of the UN Conference on Small Arms.

■ UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security is passed unanimously.

■ Alert starts its work in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a focus on the Kivu provinces in the east of the country.

■ Alert helps to create EPLO, the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office, an umbrella group of NGOs concerned with peacebuilding issues.

■ UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects is passed.