English

This paper examines how the African Union, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, can enhance its contribution to sustainable peace. This is part of our Peace Focus series.

This publication attempts to shed some light on the ways in which myths and dominant narratives associated with the conflicts in the South Caucasus are constructed, transmitted and used in the region. A region-wide research project examined three main modern mechanisms through which myths are created and disseminated: through history textbooks; through political discourse; and through the media, including the blogosphere. A particular focus of interest was how myths associated with the conflicts are subject to domestic political manipulation, how “enemy images” are created, and how these in turn serve to strengthen the resilience of those conflicts to resolution. In this volume, we present the research on political discourse, examining how these enemy images are utilised in the domestic politics of the South Caucasus as they enter their third decade of protracted conflict. (Russian/Pусский)

This publication attempts to shed some light on the ways in which myths and dominant narratives associated with the conflicts in the South Caucasus are constructed and transmitted in the region. A region-wide research project examined three mechanisms through which myths are created and disseminated. A particular focus of interest was how myths associated with the conflicts are subject to domestic political manipulation, how “enemy images” are created, and how these in turn serve to strengthen the resilience of those conflicts to resolution. In this volume, we present a comparative analysis of history textbooks in use across the region from the late Soviet and post-Soviet periods. (Russian/Pусский)

Following the change of government in Georgia in October 2012, International Alert launched a new 'Dialogue through research' process with Georgian and Abkhaz experts, inviting them to take stock of the challenges and opportunities facing both societies, taking a medium-term view to 2020. Highlights of their dialogue are presented in this publication in the form of nine discussion papers, putting the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict into the context of democratisation and governance, statebuilding and nationbuilding, socio-economic development and international relations. (Russian/Pусский)

The crisis in Mali is too often defined in terms of security for Western citizens. This paper looks at a what a peacebuilding approach to the conflict could look like. This is part of our Peace Focus series.

This report analyses the activity and influence of civil society organisations in Tunisia over the last two years, identifying the implications and opportunities for the broader Middle East and North Africa region.

In the last five years of International Alert's presence in Uganda, we have undertaken different interventions aimed at understanding conflict and building peace. In this report, we provide an overview of this work and highlights of our work in 2011 specifically.

This declaration was prepared for the Conference of Burundi Development Partners in Geneva on 29th-30th October 2012. It puts forth concrete policy recommendations on development, gender equality, economic empowerment and peacebuilding priorities for Burundi. Burundi’s second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper outlines the Government’s commitments for the country’s economic growth and development from 2012 to 2016 and was prepared in consultation with development partners and other stakeholders. Following the successful advocacy of these women’s rights organisations in Burundi over the past few years, the PRSP II document reflects concerns and priorities outlined by a broad cross-section of Burundian women. It is now crucial to ensure that these written commitments are translated into concrete and tangible actions that will benefit women and girls, and contribute to durable peace and reconciliation for all Burundians

The report aims to deepen understanding of diaspora communities in the UK and to improve partnerships between the diaspora and policymakers on peacebuilding and development policy and practice. It explores how the experience of diasporas in the UK is affected by conflict in their countries of origin, the nature of their continuing connections with these countries, and their perceptions and mobilisation around international engagement on development and peacebuilding processes. The report is based on the outcomes of focus group discussions and interviews with members of the Congolese, Pakistani, Somali and Sri Lankan Tamil diasporas together with interviews with desk officers in the EU and UK governments.

In the context of transition from conflict to peace in Nepal, and the associated urgent need for the state to be seen to enforce rule of law and ensure access to justice for all, this report documents research which examines the relationship between state and non-state justice mechanisms. The purpose of this research is to begin to identify opportunities for strengthening coordination between state and non-state justice providers, with the aim of improving access to justice. Its intended audience is state security and justice providers, and those involved in supporting non-state justice mechanisms such as paralegal committees and community mediation programmes.

The case of northern Uganda illustrates the difficulties of socio-economic reintegration faced not only by ex-combatants, but also by IDPs and war-affected youth in the post-conflict environment. It discusses the marginalisation of former abductees in particular, with a focus on the specific challenges that the reintegration process posed for girls and women. The study underscores the importance of adopting a holistic approach, and of extending support to receiving communities so as to facilitate the return of former combatants and war-affected youth more generally. It furthermore highlights the potential of private sector actors to contribute to the design of socio-economic reintegration processes which are linked to realistic livelihood opportunities, and the need for donor interventions to provide long-term, sustainable support to beneficiaries.

This report is part of the case study series, Enhancing socio-economic opportunities for ex-combatants in post-conflict environments.

This case study discusses rehabilitation efforts in Nepal following the Comprehensive Peace Accord of 2006 and geared towards those ex-combatants who were either verified minors or late recruits (VMLRs). It examines the outcomes of the process and highlights the role that private sector actors can play in the socio-economic reintegration of ex-combatants. The study critically explores the challenges that VMLRs encountered when enrolling in the rehabilitation programme, the vocational training options they were presented with, as well as the inhibiting factors which impacted on their ability to find gainful employment and attain sustainable livelihoods upon graduation. It highlights the tensions between ex-combatants’ immediate versus long-term interests, the need to align training modules with local market realities, and the barriers that misinformation and suspicion within the business community can pose to reintegration processes.

This report is part of the case study series, Enhancing socio-economic opportunities for ex-combatants in post-conflict environments.

Oversubscription, financial constraints, unrealistic timelines and a format transposed from other countries with insufficient consideration for the local context were some of the pitfalls of the disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration process in Liberia. This case study critically explores the effectiveness of the component geared towards providing ex-combatants with long-term livelihood opportunities and psycho-social support. It illustrates the drawbacks associated with limited involvement of the local business community and women’s groups in the design and implementation of the reintegration programme. The study also discusses the importance of community-based initiatives and life-skills coaching, with a view to empowering ex-combatants to not only secure sustainable livelihoods but also contribute to the rebuilding of societies whose social and economic fabric has been disrupted by violent conflict.

This report is part of the case study series, Enhancing socio-economic opportunities for ex-combatants in post-conflict environments.

This report summarises the findings of a series of case studies which explore the socio-economic aspects of reintegration programmes for ex-combatants in a number of conflict-affected countries where International Alert works: Nepal, Liberia and Uganda. The aim of the series is to stimulate discussions at the local, national and international level about the role that private sector actors can play in the effective reintegration of ex-combatants, and to strengthen practice by developing recommendations for future socio-economic reintegration programmes.

Our Programming Framework provides International Alert peace practitioners with some guidance in the complex and difficult task of building peace. It also offers those we work with and are accountable to greater clarity about what we do and why we do it. Most importantly, it is designed to enable peacebuilders to be better able to identify and measure the impact of their actions, so that they can be more effective in what they do.