Conflict and gender sensitivity

Development and humanitarian programming can have a significant impact on peace and security in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. Social and economic changes can cause or exacerbate conflict dynamics.

If these risks are not identified, managed and mitigated well, these conflicts can become violent. Conventional approaches to aid delivery are often inadequate to meet the challenges of those living in fragile and conflict-affected states. At best, poorly delivered aid will have no impact on conflict, at worst it can fuel violence. Governments, organisations and business actors must take proactive, intentional steps to be conflict sensitive in their approach.

Alert’s approach to conflict and gender sensitivity is based on the belief that governments, organisations and individuals who adopt these approaches to their work can not only minimise the risks of doing harm, but actively contribute toward building positive peace. We support the integration of conflict and gender sensitivity practice into the operations of organisations working in fragile and conflict-affected states, rather than viewing this as an extra activity or a bureaucratic “box-ticking” exercise.

How we support conflict and gender sensitivity

Alert supports a variety of development and humanitarian organisations, donors and implementing partners, businesses and governments to integrate conflict and gender sensitivity into their programming in three ways:

Conflict and gender analysis, conflict and gender assessments and research: Alert has developed an in-house peace and conflict analysis model (PCA guide) as well as research methodology to identify both the causes and drivers of conflict and highlight conflict risks for programmes and implementing partners. We have also embedded conflict analysis (and gender analysis) in political economy analysis methodologies to support external partners and donors.
Capacity building and training: Alert provides tailored workshops, either as a one-off or a series, for the staff, partners and beneficiaries of development and humanitarian organisations, as well as companies. Training topics include conflict analysis more specifically and conflict sensitivity more broadly, including guidance on putting conflict-sensitivity into operation.
Accompaniment: Alert supports conflict-sensitive project or programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E); regional, country and sectoral strategy development and implementation; fund-level communications and M&E strategies; organisational policy reforms; facilitated consultations and participatory implementation processes.