Publications
Equitable economic recovery and improved public security are both key requirements for consolidating peace in Nepal. The private sector is deeply affected by insecurity: increasing criminality, forced donations, strikes, shutdowns and labour unrest stifle production and undermine investor confidence. At the same time, irresponsible and sometimes illicit business practice further fuels this cycle of public insecurity, resulting in yet more economic hardship. Breaking this cycle therefore has to be in the interest of responsible business leaders across Nepal. This short briefing paper highlights key security concerns for the Nepali private sector and explores the role business can play in contributing to and mitigating insecurity. It identifies entry points from which various stakeholders, including the private sector, government, civil society and the international community, may seek to encourage improved public security in the country.
The purpose of this document is to give guidance to those interested in initiating or supporting a national‐level process to implement the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. The Fund for Peace (FfP) and International Alert (IA) have joined in this effort as two of the participant NGOs in the international‐level dialogue of the VPs, with funding from the Government of Norway and support from the Government of the Republic of Colombia, two of the governments formally involved in the process. This guidance note should not be viewed as overly prescriptive, as a national‐level process will invariably be different in each area.
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) has been one of the major legacies of the 14-year (1989-2003) regional conflict in the Mano River Union (MRU). In response, in 2008 International Alert and its partners designed an initiative targeting war-affected communities in nine border areas of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. This Human Security in the MRU project has challenged knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning SGBV in order to reduce perpetration and the stigmatisation of survivors, and provided information, counselling and advocacy in order to guide men and women through prevention and redress actions. This report aims to capture the experiences of the project in the context of work in three interlinked but quite specific country contexts. It looks at the extent of SGBV and domestic violence as experienced in the target communities, details the challenges and best practices of project staff in their attempts to raise awareness and change attitudes and practices, and analyses the particular challenges of providing security and accessing justice (statutory or customary) in the various target communities. It concludes with a series of recommendations for the improved provision of security and justice for women, girls and other vulnerable groups within the MRU.
La violence sexuelle et sexo-spécifique (sexual and gender-based violence : SGBV) est l’une des principales séquelles du conflit régional qui a déchiré pendant quatorze ans (1989-2003) les pays de l’Union du Fleuve Mano (UFM). En réponse, International Alert et ses partenaires ont conçu en 2008 une initiative ciblant les communautés affectées par la guerre dans neuf régions frontalières en Guinée, Libéria et Sierra Leone. Ce projet de ‘Sécurité humaine dans l’UFM’ a remis en cause les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques locales en matière de violence sexuelle et sexo-spécifique afin de réduire la fréquence de ces actes et la stigmatisation des victimes. Le projet a aussi mis à disposition des hommes et des femmes de la région une base solide d’information, d’assistance et de plaidoyer pour les guider vers des actions de prévention et de réparation. Le présent rapport se propose de cerner les expériences du projet dans le cadre du travail effectué dans les contextes respectifs liés, mais assez spécifiques, des trois pays. Il examine l’ampleur de la SGBV et de la violence familiale telles que vécues dans les communautés cibles, expose en détail les défis et les meilleures pratiques du personnel du projet dans ses efforts visant à sensibiliser et à changer les attitudes et les pratiques, puis il analyse les défis particuliers qu’il faut relever pour assurer l’accès à la sécurité et à la justice (statutaire ou coutumière) dans les différentes communautés cibles. Il conclut par une série de recommandations en vue de l’amélioration de l’accès à la sécurité et à la justice pour les femmes, les filles et autres groupes vulnérables au sein de l’UFM.
This collection of papers by researchers from Georgia and Abkhazia offers an analysis of international engagement in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict resolution process since the early 90s, with a specific focus on post-August 2008 and the departure of the UN Observer Mission in 2009. Papers assess the impact of non-governmental peacebuilding initiatives, the effectiveness of the ‘Geneva discussions’ co-facilitated by the UN, EU and OSCE, and explore prospects for Abkhaz engagement with the international community. Together, the papers make a powerful argument for the de-isolation of Abkhazia and for continued direct and impartial engagement by both governmental and non-governmental organisations.
International Alert is seeking to build on previous initiatives to inform and advance EU thinking on the reintegration of ex-combatants into post-conflict societies and economies. This is the second of two briefing papers produced as part of a year-long initiative aimed at reinvigorating the debate on reintegration. Based on research in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal, it discusses why the lessons of past reintegration programmes are not being learned and what implications this has for future EU disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programming. It was used in draft form to inform discussions at an Alert Roundtable held in Brussels in November 2009.
If all goes well, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) contributes to peacebuilding. In the worst case, it may itself be a source of conflict. This practice note explains why and how the operations of foreign investors are relevant for economic development planners and practitioners in conflict-affected contexts. It presents some of the main issues, risks and opportunities that economic development professionals need to bear in mind when designing programmes and initiatives that seek to attract foreign investors to unstable contexts.
This practice note explains why and how business environment reforms should be taken into consideration by economic development planners and practitioners working in conflict- and post-conflict contexts. It presents some of the main issues, risks and opportunities that economic development professionals need to bear in mind when designing programmes and initiatives that seek to attract foreign investors to unstable contexts.
This guidance note explains why market development in countries affected by conflict is important and relevant for economic development planners and practitioners. It presents some of the main issues, risks and opportunities that economic development professionals may typically face.
Inter-community violence and successive wars and rebellions have caused large-scale displacement of populations in the Great Lakes region of Africa. And when refugees and internally displaced people return, that can be the pretext for further outbreaks of violence. The displacement of people and also their return can often be exploited by political interests, and even if the people themselves are not being manipulated, rumours and false information can be orchestrated to heighten fears and tensions between communities. All these things are happening to some degree in the east of DRC, particularly at present in North Kivu. This short report is issued by International Alert to warn of the dangers and advocate action that should be taken.
For more than a decade, research has stressed the importance of the economic dimension of conflict, and of the economic interests of belligerents. Competition among political, military and business actors for the control of mineral resources in the east of the country is being increasingly recognised as a pivotal factor in assessing the causes of instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This report is based on a thorough review of all the main literature on the subject since the year 2000. It describes and assesses the different categories of actors and the processes, chains and linkages that are involved in mining and trading of minerals in the Kivu provinces and in the territory of Ituri. It also reveals some of the main gaps in the information on the issue that is needed to develop and refine more effective peace-building strategies by national and international interveners.
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.
International Alert is seeking to build on previous initiatives to inform and advance EU thinking on the reintegration of ex-combatants into post-conflict societies and economies. This is the second of two briefing papers produced as part of a year-long initiative aimed at reinvigorating the debate on reintegration. Based on research in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal, it discusses why the lessons of past reintegration programmes are not being learned and what implications this has for future EU disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programming. It was used in draft form to inform discussions at an Alert Roundtable held in Brussels in November 2009.
This report explores the complexities of responding to climate change in fragile and conflict affected contexts. It highlights the interaction between the impact of climate change and the social and political realities in which people live and stresses that it is this that will determine their capacity to adapt. To be effective, the goal of policy responses must be to address the political dimension of adapting to climate change, and the underlying causes of vulnerability where the state is unable to carry out its core functions. The report sets out five policy objectives and some key observations on getting the institutional structures right in order to achieve this goal. The reports findings urge policy makers to look beyond technical fixes and to address the interlinked political, social and institutional constraints to effective responses.
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.
A major challenge to improving human security and establishing sustainable peace in countries emerging from violent conflict is how to reintegrate ex-combatants into a peacetime society and economy. This is the first of two briefing papers produced as part of a year-long initiative aimed at reinvigorating the debate on reintegration. It aims to provide a platform for linking a broader range of actors who could be involved in ensuring the related aspects of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) concept move beyond policy to practice, and to explore what role the EU can play in reintegration. It discusses why socio-economic reintegration is important, what challenges it faces, what approaches are being pursued, and what factors constrain successful implementation. It was used in draft form to inform discussions at an Alert Roundtable held in Brussels in September 2009.
Governance of Natural Resources in Sao Tome and Principe: A Case Study on Oversight and Transparency of Oil Revenues
