Economy and Peacebuilding
Addressing the economic dimensions of peacebuilding through trade and support to private enterprise
‘War kills development as well as people’.1 It destroys livelihoods as well as lives, and it undermines economic as well as political progress. Violence deprives people of opportunity as well as the physical infrastructure and social structures on which they rely. Above all, perhaps, it robs them of hope and belief in the future. In other words, the impacts of conflict are as damaging to the economic potential of a nation as they are to its social and political prospects.
Putting peacebuilding at the centre of the EU's range of economic development and trade policies could notably contribute to greater policy coherence for development and support the kind of economic growth which can help societies and regions permanently emerge from violence and war.
Construction de la Paix dans la Région des Grands Lacs: Défis et Opportunités pour l’Union Européenne en RDC
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.
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.
Peacebuilding in the South Caucasus: What can the EU Contribute?
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.
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.
The UN Peacebuilding Commission: A Chance to Build Peace More Effectively
Set up during 2006 with peacebuilding as its sole objective, the UN Peacebuilding Commission has the potential to use its intergovernmental voice to focus attention on the factors that could drive a renewal of conflict. In this light, Alert submitted recommendations in late 2006 on how the PBC could most effectively orientate its short and long-term support to the process of improving security and sustaining peace, for men and women, in Burundi. More widely, this publication also looks at the main challenges for the PBC and how it should focus its activities.
Recommendations on how the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) could most effectively orientate its short and long-term support for men and women in Burundi.
Local Business Local Peace
This publication makes the case that the local business community in conflict-affected countries can and should play a role in building peace. Linking up with other peacebuilding actors, and taking advantage of their own resources and skills, business communities should address socio-economic, security, political and reconciliation dimensions of peacebuilding. Section 1 is divided into 5 thematic chapters, and Section 2 contains 19 country case studies. Executive Summaries are also available in Spanish and French.
The local business community in conflict-affected countries can and should play a role in building peace by linking up with other peacebuilding actors, and taking advantage of their own resources and skills.
Réformes de la Filière Café au Burundi
L’importance de la culture du café dans l’économie burundaise est indéniable. Elle représente l’essentiel des structures industrielles et des recettes d’exportation du pays. Les réformes de la filière café, entamées depuis 1990 mais inachevées, se sont poursuivies par la suite avec une plus grande libéralisation dans le secteur qui s’est manifesté par l’entrée dans certaines fonctions des opérateurs privés notamment dans l’exportation, le déparchage et plus récemment (mais encore timidement) dans la torréfaction.
Le but de cet exercise est de proposer des voies de solutions pour que les réformes de la filière café puissent se faire pour l’intérêt commun des principaux intervenants dans le secteur café et d’oeuvrer pour prévenir des conflits qui pourraient en résulter.
Etude sur le rôle de l’exploitation des ressources naturelles dans l’alimentation et la perpétuation des crises de l’est de la RDC
Depuis plus d'une décennie, les recherches ont souligné l'importance de la dimension économique du conflit et des intérêts économiques des belligérants. La concurrence entre les acteurs politiques, militaires et commerciaux pour le contrôle des ressources minérales dans l'est du pays est de plus en plus reconnue comme un facteur clé dans les causes d'instabilité en République démocratique du Congo. Ce rapport est basé sur un examen approfondi des principaux documents écrits sur le sujet depuis l'an 2000.
Ce rapport décrit et évalue la concurrence pour le contrôle des ressources minérales comme un facteur clé dans les causes d'instabilité dans l'est du République démocratique du Congo (RDC).
Mobilising the Ugandan Business Community for Peace
The ‘Mobilising the Ugandan Business Community for Peace’ scoping study project undertaken by International Alert and funded by Swedish SIDA, ran from October 2005-July 2006. The purpose of the research was to assess the potential of the private sector in Uganda to address Uganda’s conflicts and contribute to peacebuilding. It was also intended to lay the groundwork for any future SIDA/ International Alert work in this area.
The ‘Mobilising the Ugandan Business Community for Peace’ scoping study project undertaken by International Alert and funded by Swedish SIDA, ran from October 2005-July 2006. The purpose of the research was to assess the potential of the private sector in Uganda to address Uganda’s conflicts and contribute to peacebuilding.
Best Intentions Cannot Go Far Enough
This publication is one of the chapters of the book 'Human Security and Business' (Ruffer & Rub, 2008) which includes the papers highlighting important considerations concerning business and human rights. This publication points out the interconnectedness of severe human rights abuses in violent conflict with certain corporate practices, drawing on examples from Africa, Asia and Latin America, and shows that voluntary initiatives alone are not enough to ensure that companies, particularly in the extractive sector, act as per the law or best practices.
Links between severe human rights abuses in violent conflict and certain corporate practices, drawing on examples from Africa, Asia and Latin America, concluding that voluntary initiatives alone are not enough to ensure that companies, particularly in the extractive sector, act as per the law or best practice.
National Discussion on Oil Revenue Management in Sao Tomé and Principe (STP), and Regional Coordination Meeting of Civil society from Portuguese-speaking Countries in Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a significant oil boom and the injection of large amounts of revenues from oil, gas and mineral extraction presents an enormous challenge. This money should serve as a basis for economic growth and poverty reduction across Africa, yet history shows that resource revenues have not generally contributed to better development outcomes.
This is the report of a roundtable discussion organized by the Publish What You Pay (PWYP) coalition, International Alert and UNDP which took place in Sao Tomé and Principe from 29 to 31 October 2007.
India and its Neighbours
Until a decade ago, India was regarded largely as a poor developing country with low visibility on the global political and economic front. A multitude of factors, most prominently its emerging global economic strength, have led India not only to redefine its self-image but also to adopt a new political role both internationally and within its immediate neighbourhood.
The aim of this report is to conduct a preliminary investigation into the linkages between India's growing economic and political clout and its correlation, if any, to peacebuilding in South Asia, with particular emphasis on conflicts in Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Peacebuilding in Eastern DRC
This report focuses on economic recovery as a central pillar of peacebuilding in eastern DRC and, in particular, the role of the European Commission in supporting such processes. It argues that the drivers of fragility and instability must be addressed if meaningful long term economic recovery is to be realised. The report is based on field work carried out in South Kivu and Ituri, and draws on research by Alert’s partner in Bukavu, CEGEC.
This report focuses on economic recovery as a central pillar of peacebuilding in eastern DRC and, in particular, the role of the European Commission in supporting such processes.
Conflict- sensitive approaches to value chain development
This paper aims to provide initial thoughts and options for integrating conflict-sensitive approaches (CSA) into value chain analysis and interventions in conflict situations. It uses a value chain framework as a starting point and explores how CSA can be applied to the analysis both of different levels and the various components of the chain. While the focus is on the initial analysis stage of a project cycle, the paper also presents preliminary points for practitioners to bear in mind in implementation.
This paper aims to provide initial thoughts and options for integrating conflict-sensitive approaches (CSA) into value chain analysis and interventions in conflict situations. It also presents initial points to bear in mind for practitioners.
A Role for the Private Sector in Peace Processes?
This report was produced as a background paper for CHD’s Oslo Forum, an annual gathering of senior international conflict mediators. This paper will discuss the diverse roles played by the private sector during Track 1 peace processes in particular, drawing on a variety of examples from different contexts.
This paper discusses the diverse roles played by the private sector during Track 1 peace processes in particular, drawing on a variety of examples from different contexts.
Building a Peace Economy in Northern Uganda
The attention and interest of the various stakeholders in rebuilding Northern Uganda’s economy as part of peace and recovery present critically important opportunities for positive change and a move to sustainable peace in the region, following years of economic decline and underdevelopment during the decades of conflict. But how strategic are these plans, given the challenges that persist, and when seen from a peacebuilding perspective? Are the opportunities to address root causes, immediate consequences, and ongoing threats of war being seized?
This briefing paper provides recommendations for conflict-sensitive policy and practice in northern Uganda, targeted at policy-makers and implementers in central and local government, as well as development partners (including NGOs) and private sector actors operating in the region.
Contact Us
International Alert, 346 Clapham Road
LONDON, SW9 9AP, United Kingdom
Tel +44 (0) 20 7627 6800
Fax +44 (0) 20 7627 6900
