South and South East Asia
Costs of war
This study examines the human, economic and socio-political costs of the war between the Government of Sri
Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Location
Engaging the diaspora
In January 2011 International Alert teamed up with the Royal Commonwealth Society to take eight British youth of Sri Lankan heritage, and from both Tamil and Sinhalese backgrounds, to Sri Lanka as part of our Sri Lankan programme and our work with Sri Lankan diaspora who live in the UK.
Enabling Civil Society to Contribute to the Democratic Reform of the Justice and Security Sector in Nepal
The accessible and accountable provision of security and justice services is essential for long-term development and sustainable peace. People need to feel safe to go about their daily lives, trusting that security and justice providers are able and willing to do their jobs effectively and accountably. To date, the mandate and capacity of key service providers have often been constricted by political interference and a lack of oversight, and discussions regarding the reform of the security and justice sectors have taken place mostly in Kathmandu and behind closed doors.
In the absence of a strong and clear public voice demanding improvements to security and justice provision, and an understanding of how the provision of these vital services needs to change in order to respond to the diverse needs of the Nepali population, it is unlikely that any future reforms will result in a significant improvement in the lives of the majority.
This project aims to address this risk by supporting civil society to inform and monitor the development of inclusive justice and security sector reform policy and practice at the local, regional and national levels. It will do this by:
1. Building civil society knowledge, awareness and capacity to generate and participate in JSSR policy discussions at the local, regional and national levels;
2. Supporting the development of civil society advocacy networks to promote inclusion of public concerns in local and national JSSR policy development and practice;
3. Linking civil society to JSSR service providers and decision-makers in order to ensure that national-level policy debates on JSSR are informed by and reflect local-level realities and concerns.
Working districts:
Banke, Jumla, Kailali, Kathmandu, Nawalparasi, Siraha and Sunsari
Project partners:
Antenna Foundation, Equal Access, Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), IHRICON, NGO Federation, Saferworld.
Donor: Government of Denmark
Contact Person
Sadhana Ghimire Bhetuwal, Senior Programme Officer – Security & Justice, sgbhetuwal@international-alert.org
Location
Nepal
International Alert has been working in support of peace in Nepal since 1999. Our work focuses on supporting national and international actors to build long-term conditions for sustainable peace in Nepal. In particular, we seek to:
Sri Lanka
In May 2009 the war in Sri Lanka ended with a military victory for the government over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). After nearly 30 years of violent conflict, the country is now embarking on a journey to peace.
South Asia
South Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, suffers from multiple, protracted conflicts within and across its borders. Some of the factors driving these conflicts are common across the region. International Alert works to better understand the causes of conflict across the region and promote South Asian owned peacebuilding solutions.
Training young Nepalis to undertake research on security challenges and responses
International Alert, together with partners Equal Access Nepal and Youth Action Nepal, recently completed a training course in Nepal for interns who will be responsible for undertaking research on Nepali youth’s experiences and perceptions of current security challenges and responses.
Engaging the Nepali private sector in support of improved public security
Equitable economic recovery is a key requirement for consolidating peace in Nepal, where the economic exclusion of various groups, ownership of productive resources by a small elite, and decades of failed development have fed both poverty and multiple conflicts. Public expectations of “peace dividends” remain high and are defined largely in terms of economic opportunity. The perceived failure of the peace process to meet these expectations thus far is fuelling increased frustration, particularly amongst young people.
Promoting the tools for conflict-sensitive approaches to development in Nepal
Conflict-sensitive approaches to development and humanitarian interventions were the focus of a recent training course conducted by International Alert for senior programme staff from UNDP, UNICEF and UNRCO in Nepal.
Aiming to introduce a practical set of tools for programme staff to integrate into operations at a field level, the course imparted knowledge on how to identify conflict risks and impacts, mitigating steps and recognising potential opportunities.
Sri Lanka and Nepal exchange business leaders in search for inclusive economy of peace
International Alert and partners recently organised a regional exchange programme in Kathmandu and in Dharan and Biratnagar, in the eastern Terai region of Nepal, between key Nepali and Sri Lankan business leaders.
Strengthening the economic dimensions of peacebuilding
International Alert recently launched a new publication series, part of the project ‘Strengthening the Economic Dimensions of Peacebuilding’.
Putting public security on the agenda in Nepal
We are pleased to share with you International Alert’s briefing on Public Security in Nepal and the final versions of our security and justice snapshot series. The work for these was carried out as part of the Initiative for Peacebuilding, a consortium led by Alert and funded by the European Commission.
Economic Recovery and Peacebuilding in Nepal
We are pleased to share with you International Alert’s briefing paper on Economic Recovery and Peacebuilding in Nepal. This paper is part of International Alert – Nepal’s working paper series on ‘Equitable economic recovery for peace’, which seeks to share research and stimulate debate on the key conditions, barriers and opportunities for peace through inclusive economic development in Nepal.
International Alert launches unique tool to sustain business and peace
"This resource pack will give every business an opportunity to change its sphere of influence.”
Ravi Fernando, UN Global Compact Sri Lanka Network Focal Point
CEO SLINTEC (Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology).
Alert helps the World Bank to improve its conflict sensitivity in Nepal
On 4th June, the World Bank’s Board of Directors discussed the new two-year country interim assistance strategy for Nepal. The new plan aims to address key elements of the peace process, including the foundations for state building, growth and improved basic service delivery for Nepal’s poor. It includes a clear commitment to improve the sensitivity of Bank-supported projects to the root causes of the conflict and the social tensions in the country.
Contact Us
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Tel +44 (0) 20 7627 6800
Fax +44 (0) 20 7627 6900
