Economy and Peacebuilding
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.
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.
The Crossing
The small-scale cross-border trade in agricultural products between DRC and Rwanda constitutes a survival economy sustaining thousands of people on both sides of the border. This report analyses this trade between the towns of Goma (DR Congo) and Gisenyi (Rwanda) and the relationship between Congolese and Rwandese women traders, in order to understand the impact that improving this trade would have on good neighborly relations, peace and security.
This report analyses this trade between the towns of Goma (DR Congo) and Gisenyi (Rwanda) and the relationship between Congolese and Rwandese women traders, in order to understand the impact that improving this trade would have on good neighborly relations, peace and security.
Practice Note 1: Market Development in Conflict-affected 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. It also introduces the key stakeholders and processes, questions to be considered and main lessons learned. The final section points the reader to additional resources on the topic.
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.
Practice Note 2: Business Environment Reforms in Conflict-affected 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 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.
Practice Note 3: Foreign Direct Investment in Conflict-affected Contexts
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 the operations of foreign investors are relevant for economic development planners and practitioners in conflict-affected contexts.
The Challenges of Supporting "Alternative" Economic Opportunities for Peacebuilding – Perspectives from Colombia
This series of four country case studies explores the ways in which the economic causes, drivers and impacts of conflict have been tackled in different ways in a number of conflict-affected countries where Alert works. The aim is to encourage cross-country learning, and inform what has become a vibrant international debate in the last few years on how to adapt economic development interventions to conflict contexts, to make them conflict-sensitive, and able to support longer-term peacebuilding.
This report - part of a series of four country case studies - explores the ways in which the economic causes, drivers and impacts of conflict have been tackled in Colombia.
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