Peacebuilding issues

Alert’s Peacebuilding Issues Programme focuses on issues critical to addressing the underlying causes of conflict:

	Business Promoting conflict-sensitive business practices at local and international levels		Security Preventing illegal small arms trade and improving the security sector
	Institutional advocacy Strengthening policies on conflict prevention and peacebuilding within the EU, UN and other institutions		Gender Including gender perspectives at the policy and grass-roots levels
	Development Assistance and Humanitarian Aid Exploring the links between conflict -sensitivity and development

Awareness of sustainable peace processes at government and international levels has grown over the past decade but decision-makers at these levels need more insight into the practical consequences of their decisions and priorities in conflict regions. The Peacebuilding Issues Programme does this by ensuring that the perspectives and priorities of our local partners are represented at the highest international levels and by providing specialist support on the ground

We take the concept of strategic peacebuilding as our starting point, a comprehensive approach which recognises that lasting peace is dependent on equitable social and economic development, accountable and transparent government, the physical security of citizens, impartial justice and genuine reconciliation.

The main themes that we focus on are business, development assistance and humanitarian aid, gender and security but we are also developing work on issues relating to governance, reconciliation and justice and post-conflict reconstruction. Each project operates at multiple levels, from accompaniment of grassroots organisations in regions affected by conflict through to national and international policy formulation.

Our work includes:

• Accompaniment and capacity building - practical training, advice and support for civil society (human rights NGOs, journalists, academics) and businesses in conflict zones to help them contribute to building peace.
  
  
• Bringing together decision-makers and civil society from conflict zones for dialogue so that grassroots perspectives are fed into decision-making, and decisions are effectively communicated to those who are impacted by them
  
  
• Research with partners in conflict zones to develop understanding and analysis of local contexts, issues, needs and good practice, and global-level research in order to deepen analysis and thinking on more effective responses to conflict situations
  
  
• Making specific recommendations to policy makers at national and international levels and companies at headquarter level in order to make their practices more conflict-sensitive
  
  
• Providing specialist technical support, advice and training to development agencies, governments and businesses on how to implement projects in a conflict-sensitive way and contribute to building lasting peace.
  
  
• Advocating for more appropriate and strategic approaches to peacebuilding by outside parties in conflict areas at the international policy level
  

For further information please contact Cynthia Gaigals

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Last updated: October 2007