Economy and Peacebuilding

Report on the proceedings of the Diamonds for Development Sub-Regional Conference

International Alert
Juin, 2006
International Alert
19 pages
London, UK

This conference was convened within the framework of the Diamonds for Development initiative (D4D), which focuses on the sustainable use of revenue from mineral resources for the purposes of development. It was organised by the Government of Liberia in partnership with UNDP Liberia and International Alert with the objective of identifying ways to ensure that the alluvial diamond sector contributes to sustainable peace and development in the Mano River Basin sub-region.

Report on the proceedings of the Diamonds for Development Sub-Regional Conference.

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Conflict-Sensitive Project Finance: Better Lending Practice in Conflict-Prone States

Jessica Banfield
Salil Tripathi
Août, 2006
International Alert
30 pages
London, UK
1-898702-78-0

This briefing paper proposes better lending practice in conflict-prone states – defined as ‘conflict-sensitive’ project finance – is in the interests of all stakeholders. Such an approach would enable financial institutions to:

    Understand the conflict context in which a project is developed
    Recognise the two-way process that characterises the interaction between investments and conflict and assess the impact between the project activities and the conflict context

This briefing paper highlights the risks associated with financing projects in conflict-prone areas, and proposes better lending practice in conflict-prone states –defined as ‘conflict sensitive’ project finance.

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Conflict-Sensitive Business Practice: Engineering Contractors and their Clients

Jessica Banfield
Salil Tripathi
Août, 2006
International Alert
18 pages
London, UK
1-898702-79-9

Contractors operating in unstable states face a range of conflict risks. Oil, gas and mining projects, which frequently have significant contractor involvement, can inadvertently trigger or sustain violence, or become the focus of resentment themselves. Produced in partnership with Engineers Against Poverty, this guidance note is addressed both to engineering contractors and their clients.

This guidance note examines some key issues related to conflict, contractors and conflict sensitivity, and introduces conflict-sensitive business practice (CSBP) – steps through which these issues can be understood and managed.

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Addressing the economic dimensions of peacebuilding through trade and support to private enterprise

Canan Gündüz
Charlotte Vaillant
with Jessica Banfield
Septembre, 2006
International Alert
43 pages
London, UK
1-898702-80-2

‘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.

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

Peacebuilding in The Great Lakes: Challenges and Opportunities for the EU in the DRC (French Version)
Charlotte Vaillant
Septembre, 2006
International Alert
42 pages
London, UK
1-898702-85-3

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.

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

Edward Bell with Diana Klein
Septembre, 2006
International Alert
40 pages
London, UK
1-898702-80-2

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.

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The UN Peacebuilding Commission: A Chance to Build Peace More Effectively

The Case of Burundi
International Alert
Octobre, 2006
International Alert
14 pages
London, UK

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.

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Local Business Local Peace

The Peacebuilding Potential of the Domestic Private Sector
Jessica Banfield, Canan Gündüz, Nick Killick (eds.)
Juillet, 2006
International Alert
584 pages
London, UK
1-898702-73-X

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.

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Réformes de la Filière Café au Burundi

Perspectives d’Avenir pour la Participation, la Prosperite et la Paix
Jean-Paul Kimonyo
Damase Ntiranyibagira
Février, 2007
International Alert and USAID
56 pages
London, UK
978-1-898702-87-0

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.

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Etude sur le rôle de l’exploitation des ressources naturelles dans l’alimentation et la perpétuation des crises de l’est de la RDC

International Alert
Octobre, 2009
International Alert
94 pages
London, UK
NA

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).

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Mobilising the Ugandan Business Community for Peace

Scoping Study – Summary Report
International Alert
Octobre, 2006
International Alert
32 pages
London, UK

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.

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Best Intentions Cannot Go Far Enough

Salil Tripathi
Janvier, 2007
Rüffer & Rubb
10 pages
London, UK
978-3-907625-39-2

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.

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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

International Alert
UNDP, and Publish What You Pay Coalition
Octobre, 2007
International Alert
43 pages
London, UK

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.

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India and its Neighbours

Do Economic Interests Have the Potential to Build Peace?
Charu Lata Hogg
Octobre, 2007
International Alert and Chatham House
16 pages
London, UK
978-1-862031-93-2

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.

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Peacebuilding in Eastern DRC

Improving EU Support for Economic Recovery
Alison Thompson with Edward Bell
Novembre, 2007
International Alert
32 pages
London, UK
978-1-898702-92-4

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.

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