Publications

Peacebuilding, the World Bank and the United Nations

chandani — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:54:55 +0000

Debates and Practice in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal: Summary

Why is development progress difficult in fragile and conflict-affected countries? International Alert conducted a series of studies in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal to explore this question in terms of how international institutions channel aid to support peace and development progress. The studies focused on two multilaterals: the World Bank and the United Nations. From the country studies, some common institutional challenges and opportunities emerged: governance and political legitimacy; responsiveness to fast-changing contexts; managing organisational mandates; harnessing comparative advantage between institutions; and translating policy commitments into practice. This summary of research findings and analysis includes a series of emerging recommendations. Rather than providing answers, this paper uses evidence to stimulate new conversation, thinking and practice.

978-1-906677-06-0

Insights: International Institutions, Aid Effectiveness and Peacebuilding in Nepal

chandani — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:57:09 +0000

This series of three country “Insights” identifies peacebuilding priorities in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal, and discusses the response of the international institutions operating there. The focus institutions are primarily the World Bank and the UN. The insights provide a brief snapshot and analysis of each country’s particular peacebuilding needs, as well as the dynamics that either facilitate or hinder institutional ability to address these needs. Findings inform a synthesis report entitled ‘Peacebuilding, the World Bank and the United Nations: Debates and Practice in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal’, the summary of which is available here. This work is part of Alert’s International Institutions Programme which seeks through research and engagement to strengthen the peacebuilding impacts of international institutions in fragile and conflict-affected countries.

978-1-906677-16-9

Insights: International Institutions, Aid Effectiveness and Peacebuilding in Burundi

chandani — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:51:23 +0000

978-1-906677-14-5

Insights: International Institutions, Aid Effectiveness and Peacebuilding in Liberia

chandani — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:43:50 +0000

978-1-906677-13-8

Working with the Grain to Change the Grain

paul — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:22:25 +0000

Moving beyond the Millennium Development Goals

A UN Summit in September will review progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. It will find that they are not going to be met by 2015 as planned. But rather than push for an “MDG Rescue Plan” as some are proposing, it is time to ask some hard questions about how societies change, and what we really mean by "development". This report proposes a new model for defining and measuring development progress, and makes practical recommendations about how aid can become more effective in promoting, supporting and enabling human progress, especially in so-called fragile states.

978-1-906677-65-7

A New Business Model for Humanitarian Assistance?

editor — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:40:13 +0000

A Challenge Paper by the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Humanitarian Assistance

In this challenge paper the members of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council propose a new vulnerability and protection business model for humanitarian assistance. This new model should have six requirements: A comprehensive risk framework; A reworked balance of spending between response, prevention and recovery; A big investment in national and local capacity; Fuller engagement of the private sector; Linking of the humanitarian to broader social and economic development issues; and Regional and international readiness to address cross-border humanitarian issues.

978-1-906677-50-3

The World Bank in fragile and conflict-affected countries

editor — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 10:06:23 +0000

‘How’, not ‘how much’

This study outlines the particular development challenges confronting international actors in fragile and conflict-affected countries, and gives a summary of the World Bank’s evolving approach to those challenges. The study then sets out certain key problems which, despite recent improvements, continue to reduce the quality of the Bank’s impacts. Noting the inconsistencies in the Bank’s approaches, it assesses the factors that determine the Bank’s ability to deal with, and help address, the immense complexity of its operating environments. It concludes with recommendations for improving approaches to those complexities.

978-1-898702-96-8

Acting on Commitments

editor — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:31:45 +0000

How EU Strategies and Programming can Better Prevent Violent C0onflict

New strategy papers for the EU's engagement with developing countries will soon be agreed. The activities under them will have fundamental impacts on the contexts in which they will be applied, and many of these are prone to, or affected by, violent conflict, or experience some kind of societal or state fragility. Recognising the importance of the strategy papers, and the programming which will flow from them, International Alert, Saferworld and the European Peaceubilding Liaison Office, have come together to produce this briefing paper, providing analysis and advice for decision-making in Brussels and in the field.

Donor Aid Strategies in Post-Peace Settlement Environments

editor — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:42:36 +0000

International Lessons and Recommendations for Donors in Nepal's Transition Period

This paper aims to provide a think-piece for how donor strategies might respond in support of Nepal's future prospects for sustainable peace. It does this recognising that Nepal is still suffering from the causes and consequences of 10 years of debilitating violent conflict and a history of multiple, parallel governance systems

Donor Aid Priorities for Peacebuilding in Nepal’s Post-Peace Settlement Transition

editor — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:45:19 +0000

This paper grows from the meeting between IA and the Donor Group on 23rd November 2006 on how to respond effectively and appropriately in the changed political context in Nepal. Drawing on the comments and analysis at the meeting, this paper offers recommendations on priorities for donor engagement. The basic theme is that short-term goals can be achieved, but only if addressing the culture of power in Nepal is the starting point.

Peacebuilding in The Great Lakes

editor — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:28:46 +0000

Challenges and Opportunities for the EU in the DRC

Produced as part of the EU-funded Conflict Prevention Partnership, this paper analyses the context in which the European Union uses its external relations instruments to address security issues, promote legitimate and effective governance, and support economic recovery and regional integration, in the DRC. Consultations in the region and in the EU, as well as meetings held in Kinshasa in September 2006 with local officials, civil society and international diplomats have been used to develop recommendations and suggest possible avenues under each theme.

1-898702-82-9

Construction de la Paix dans la Région des Grands Lacs: Défis et Opportunités pour l’Union Européenne en RDC

editor — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:32:18 +0000

Peacebuilding in The Great Lakes: Challenges and Opportunities for the EU in the DRC (French Version)

Elaboré dans le cadre du Partenariat pour la Prévention des Conflits, ce document analyse le contexte dans lequel l’UE utilise ses instruments de relations extérieures pour combattre l’insécurité, promouvoir une gouvernance légitime et efficace, et soutenir la reconstruction, un développement durable, et l’intégration régionale en RDC. Des consultations dans la région et dans l’UE ont permis de dégager des propositions communes sur chaque thème pour que l’UE puisse mieux contribuer à une paix et développement durable en RDC et dans la région.

1-898702-85-3

Peacebuilding in the South Caucasus: What can the EU Contribute?

editor — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:52:34 +0000

This paper is aimed at motivating and informing discussion within the EU institutions and Member States on the nature of their engagement in the South Caucasus. It suggests priority areas for political dialogue and external assistance programming under the upcoming EC Country and Regional Strategy Papers. It argues that unless authorities and civil society in the region, supported by the international community, genuinely address the root causes of violent conflict, societal instability and distrust, then broad-based development and prosperity will remain beyond reach.

1-898702-80-2

Supporting Civil Society in Building Peace in Nepal

editor — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:49:12 +0000

This report is divided into two sections. The first section is a brief overview of the new context in Nepal resulting from the People’s Movement II of April 2006. The second section comprises the substantive part of the report and offers concrete recommendations for how donors can collaborate to support civil society in peacebuilding and conflict transformation. In the current context, greater focus has been given to recommendations based on collaborative donor support to civil society outside of Kathmandu.