This report analyses the EU’s institutional capacity to carry out conflict early warning, early action, and conflict prevention in two of the most conflict-ridden and war-affected countries in the world: Sudan and South Sudan. It analyses the institutional aspects of EU conflict early warning approaches and assesses the extent to which they are applied in-country and in Brussels to inform policies, strategies and programming processes.
This report analyses the EU’s institutional capacity to carry out conflict early warning, early action, and conflict prevention in two of the most conflict-ridden and war-affected countries in the world - Sudan and South Sudan - concluding that the EU needs to identify its peacebuilding niche in a heavily crowded field of actors.
Why is development progress difficult in fragile and conflict-affected countries? International Alert conducted a series of studies in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal to explore this question in terms of how international institutions channel aid to support peace and development progress. The studies focused on two multilaterals: the World Bank and the United Nations.
Why is development progress difficult in fragile and conflict-affected countries? This report presents institutional challenges and opportunities experienced by two multilaterals, the World Bank and the United Nations, drawing on case studies of their peace and development work in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal.
Bien que de nombreuses études publiées au cours de la décennie qui vient de s’écouler aient souligné le rôle central joué par l’exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle du coltan, de l’or et de la cassitérite dans les conflits qui continuent de secouer la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), le mode opératoire des différents acteurs participant à l’exploitation et au commerce de ces minerais reste mal connu.
Bien que de nombreuses études publiées au cours de la décennie qui vient de s’écouler aient souligné le rôle central joué par l’exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle du coltan, de l’or et de la cassitérite dans les conflits qui continuent de secouer la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), le mode opératoire des différents acteurs participant à l’exploitation et au commerce de ces minerais reste mal connu. Il est crucial que des initiatives visant à réformer l’industrie de l’exploitation minière artisanale se basent sur une analyse approfondie des dynamiques politiques, économiques et sociales sur le terrain. Ce rapport de recherche analyse les réseaux commerciaux au sein du secteur minier et leurs liens avec les acteurs militaires, économiques et politiques de l’est de la RDC, en se focalisant sur les provinces du Nord et du Sud-Kivu, du district de l'Ituri et de la Province Orientale.
For large parts of the population in West Africa, political participation and contribution to public circles is impaired by a number of challenges. Women and young people, in particular, might face cultural, economic or political obstacles when attempting to make their voices heard.
A toolkit for those working to facilitate the participation of women and youth in public circles in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Map: © Wikipedia under Creative Commons
As we look to summer, it is hard not to reflect on what an eventful spring it has been on the international stage.
From a historic revolution in Egypt to the violent civil conflict that has erupted in Libya – the need for peace is back in the spotlight.
The current phase of oil exploration in Uganda offers a unique opportunity to alleviate poverty and create broad-based development and improved standards of living across the country.
A framework for managing oil exploration in Uganda with the aim of becoming a helpful tool for legislators.
This briefing paper focuses on Bong County in central Liberia, one of the areas worst affected by conflict in the Mano River Union. It forms part of International Alert’s work to address the current gaps in knowledge and understanding between local actors in the leeward counties and those in Monrovia. Each briefing in this series aims to outline current security and justice needs and challenges in a particular county and advance constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address these challenges.
This briefing paper focuses on security and justice needs and challenges in Bong County in central Liberia, and constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address them.
This briefing paper focuses on Grand Gedeh County in southeast Liberia, one of the areas worst affected by conflict in the Mano River Union. It forms part of International Alert’s work to address the current gaps in knowledge and understanding between local actors in the leeward counties and those in Monrovia. Each briefing in this series aims to outline current security and justice needs and challenges in a particular county and advance constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address these challenges.
This briefing paper focuses on security and justice needs and challenges in Grand Gedeh County in southeast Liberia, and constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address them.
This briefing paper focuses on Lofa County in northern Liberia, one of the areas worst affected by conflict in the Mano River Union. It forms part of International Alert’s work to address the current gaps in knowledge and understanding between local actors in the leeward counties and those in Monrovia. Each briefing in this series aims to outline current security and justice needs and challenges in a particular county and advance constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address these challenges.
This briefing paper focuses on security and justice needs and challenges in Lofa County in northern Liberia, and constructive recommendations for ways in which national and international actors could address them.
This briefing note seeks to contribute to the knowledge on Resolution 1325, building on International Alert’s work in the MRU region during the last few years. The first section briefly discusses the need to adjust the approach to implementing Resolution 1325 in challenging contexts such as post-conflict Sierra Leone and Liberia and conflict-prone Guinea. Based on a brief discussion of salient issues and thematic priorities across the three countries, the subsequent section sketches the contours of a comprehensive agenda for implementing Resolution 1325 in the MRU region.
This briefing note contributes to knowledge on Resolution 1325, building on International Alert’s work in the Mano River Union (MRU) region during the last few years. It gives four recommendations to sustain and enhance work on the Resolution in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
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 report aims to capture the experiences of the Human Security in the Mano River Union (MRU) project in the context of three interlinked but quite specific country contexts: Guinea Liberia and Sierra Leone.