Domestic enterprises building peace

Peacebuilding policies and practices have become more sophisticated over the years due to the attention paid to the negative impact of economic activity in conflict zones. But even during a war, businesses operate: electricity gets generated, water gets supplied, food gets distributed, buses run, planes take off, and regular commercial activities, including banking, continue, although often at a higher cost.

The behaviour of local businesses can potentially fuel conflict but can also find creative ways of coping with insecurity and violence, and often plays a role in promoting peace by ensuring stability through their conduct and presence.

While domestic entrepreneurs often act as community leaders to bridge conflict divides, the peacebuilding and development communities often fail to harness this potential.

Based on a review of lessons from over 20 countries, including our and others’ work in this area, we present recommendations on strengthening domestic enterprises’ support to peace in five areas. In each case, local business leaders can bring unique skills and capacities to bear that complement those of other, more traditional, peace constituencies:

• Supporting political processes and peace negotiations
• Promoting economic recovery
• Supporting peaceful relations among communities
• Helping tackle insecurity
• Promoting women’s participation, politically, economically and socially.

For the overall report, including introduction, full individual country case studies, conclusions and summary of findings: Local Business, Local Peace. The report was disseminated widely and served to deepen our engagement with local business and peacebuilding initiatives, including those below.