R4D Conflict

Beyond Conflict: Reconfiguring approaches to the regional trade in minerals from Eastern DRC

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:03:00 GMT

Miscellaneous H. Mitchell and N. Garrett 2009 86 pp. This report first provided an overview and analysis of the regional trade in minerals from Eastern DRC, including a baseline assessment of its links to conflict and development dynamics. This assessment explains the on the ground realities, which are at the very heart of the authors scepticism towards the potential success of interventions in the economic domain. The assessment of the trade also provides an overview of the important poverty reduction contribution, such as the trades fiscal linkage and employment function, which it currently provides and which can be expanded with the right strategies.

Secondly, the report expands on a regional perspective of the trade and introduces how successfully the DRCs neighbours, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania, have leveraged their own mineral production and trading sectors in various ways for development. This regional assessment of the development impact, but more importantly the regional development potential of a reformed trade leads us to believe that processes of regional economic integration, which are strengthening in East Africa, provide an increasingly important analytical perspective of the trade, rather than the loot thy neighbour strategy that was seen to prevail during the past two Congolese wars.

This report aims to further advances the debate around the mineral sector in Eastern DRC. The authors urge stakeholders to take action to end the insecurity in the region and to implement strategies to maximise the mining sectors impact on poverty reduction and development through positive engagement.

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform Mapping Study: Sudan Report

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:47:00 GMT

Miscellaneous J. Cosgrave 2009 70 pp. Sudan is at the heart of the whole humanitarian reform process. It was perceptions of poor performance by the humanitarian community here that drove the Humanitarian Reform initiative. Sudan was the first country to have a large Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF). This report examines NGO engagement with the three pillars of the humanitarian reform: funding; coordination; and leadership; as well as the overall enabler of partnership.

In Sudan, NGO engagement with the humanitarian reforms has been mainly limited by the lack of reform. Key elements of the humanitarian reform have not been implemented: pooled funds have not been used as a strategic tool; the cluster coordination approach is clusterised in name only; NGOs are not treated as equal partners; and the Humanitarian Coordinator does not have a humanitarian background. All of these issues are linked. Particularly critical is the lack of strong humanitarian leadership. The humanitarian reforms can only succeed when all elements of the reform are in place. This is not happening in Sudan.

NGOs and Humanitarian Reform Mapping Study: Afghanistan Report

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:16:00 GMT

Miscellaneous A. Donini 2009 41 pp. This report highlights key challenges and dilemmas that the humanitarian community in general, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in particular, are facing in Afghanistan today. The report concludes with two overarching recommendations. The first is that in order to enhance the perception of neutrality, independence and impartiality of their humanitarian activities, particularly in those areas of the country where working with legitimate local authorities is no longer possible, NGOs should establish a Humanitarian Consortium that would distinguish itself from other actors on the ground by a recognizable symbol (e.g. pink vehicles or a particular logo) and by a set of principled, clear and transparent operational guidelines. The second relates to the urgent need to launch a communications strategy aimed at the general public and all belligerents to explain the principles, objectives and modus operandi of consortium agencies. This should include efforts to ensure that the vernacular media provide a balanced presentation of humanitarian activities, a campaign to sensitise decision-makers at the sub-national level (provincial councils, governors, leading mullahs), including efforts directed at influencing the leadership of the insurgency on humanitarian access and the rights of civilians caught up in conflict.

Vulnerability to malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS infection and disease. Part II: determinants operating at environmental and institutional level.

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:17:00 GMT

Miscellaneous Bates, I.; Fenton, C.; Gruber, J.; Lalloo, D.; Lara, A.M.; Squire, S.B.; Theobald, S.; Thomson, R.; Tolhurst, R. 2004 The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2004) Volume 4, Issue 6, pp. 368-375 [doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(04)01047-3] This review summarises a wide range of evidence about environmental and institutional factors that influence vulnerability to malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV infection. By combining this information with that obtained on factors operating at individual, household, and community level (see part 1), we have identified potential common strategies for improving resilience to all three diseases simultaneously. These strategies depend on collaborations with non-health sectors and include progress in rapid access to funds, provision of education about disease transmission and management, reduction of the burden on carers (predominantly women), and improvement in the quality of health services.

Wars, Guns and Votes: Democracy in Dangerous Places

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:42:00 GMT

Miscellaneous P. Collier 2009 ISBN: 9780061479632; ISBN10: 0061479632. Harper Collins. 272 pp. Paul Collier investigates the violence and poverty in the small, remote countries at the lowest level of the world economy. Collier argues that the spread of elections and peace settlements in the world's most dangerous countries may lead to a brave new democratic world. In the meantime, though, nasty and long civil wars, military coups, and failing economies are the order of the day - for now and into the foreseeable future.

Kenyan Flower Exports during the Violence: a Quantitative Assessment

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:16:00 GMT

Miscellaneous C. Ksoll, R. Macchiavello, and Ameet Morjaria 2009 Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. April 2009. 31 pp.

Guns and Roses: The Impact of the Kenyan Post-Election Violence on Flower Exporting Firms.

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:41:00 GMT

Miscellaneous C. Ksoll, R. Macchiavello and Ameet Morjaria 2009 CSAE Economics Department, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. CSAE WPS/2009-06, 35 pp. This paper analyses the impact of the Kenyan post-election violence on a hugely successful export oriented industry, the Kenyan flower industry. Using export information on all Kenyan grower-exporters, it shows that the conflict reduced Kenyan flower exports by 24% overall. It finds that the conflict reduced exports by 38% for firms located in conflict areas, mainly through displacing workers. The displacement of semi-skilled workers is also shown to have had impacts substantially beyond the duration of the conflict. Research also suggests that exporters in non-conflict areas reacted to the increased insecurity by transporting larger, more secured shipments to the airport less frequently.

The Impact of the Kenyan Post-election Violence on the Kenyan Flower Export Industry

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:11:00 GMT

Miscellaneous C. Ksoll, R. Macchiavello, and Ameet Morjaria. 2009 CSAE Economics Department, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. iiG Briefing Paper 05, 3 pp. An analysis of Kenyan flower exports by the Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE) at Oxford University quantifies the impact of the post-election violence in 2007/8 on the Kenyan flower industry. This industry was Kenyas largest foreign exchange earner in 2007 and it is an exclusively export orientated industry.

Working Paper No. 57. The African Union as Security Actor: African Solutions to African Problems?

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:41:00 GMT

Miscellaneous B. Moller 2009 Working Paper No. 57 (series 2), London, UK; Crisis States Research Centre, 28 pp. This paper focuses on the problem-solving capacity of the African Union (AU) and its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). It forms a companion paper to WP56.2 which looks specifically at the ability of African sub-regional organisations to play their part in dealing with Africa's conflicts and security issues. Both papers examine the hypothesis that a regional hegemon, and a measure of shared values and norms, are necessary requirements for an effective regional security organisation.

The paper commences with a brief account of the concept of hegemony, followed by an analysis of the empirical question as to whether there are any potential hegemons in Africa. The author goes on to analyse the OAU's record in dealing with conflict and traces the genesis of the AU, its ambitions, organisational structure and actual accomplishments in the realm of peace and security.

Conflict, education and the intergenerational transmission of poverty in Northern Uganda

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:43:00 GMT

Miscellaneous K. Bird and K. Higgins 2009 ODI Project Briefing 23, 4 pp. This Project Briefing draws on a study in Northern Uganda to examine the long-run, or intergenerational, impact of conflict. A research project conducted recently by the Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC), titled Conflict, Education and the Intergenerational Transmission of Poverty in Northern Uganda, explores the role of education in supporting resilience and, in turn, poverty trajectories. The research has confirmed that conflict has long-term and intergenerational impacts on well-being and livelihoods. It has also found, however, that education supports resilience and helps prevent declines into chronic poverty during and following conflict, and that universal policies, such as Education for All, are not enough to address regional imbalances post-conflict.

Scoping a long-term research programme on conflict, state fragility and social cohesion

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 11:20:00 GMT

Completed The purpose of this scoping study is to provide evidence on the need for research on conflict, state fragility and social cohesion and to provide recommendations on the scope and focus of a long-term research programme in this area. It builds on the consultation for DFID's research strategy (2008-2013) undertaken in 2007 as well as initial consultations undertaken in August 2008 with DFID staff and partners. These consultation processes suggested that there was demand for further research in two key areas:
(i) The drivers and sustainers of conflict and fragility - looking at the relevance of different structural factors to different forms of conflict and fragility and well as the relationship between state and non-state sources of power; and
(ii) Prevention and recovery - looking at levels of resilience within states and societies with an explicit focus on state building, social cohesion and the impact of global dynamics, and considering key policy key trade-offs.

Priority problems of forest dependent poor people in a conflict situation in Nepal: an update report

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:39:00 GMT

Completed This survey provided an update of the 2003 report (ZF0172). It focused on understanding how the escalating violent conflict in Nepal has affected livelihoods and reconfigured the structure of livelihood problems. The survey documented perceived priority problems of the forest and tree-dependent poor by service providers and the poor themselves.

Reconstruction of natural resource management institutions in post-conflict countries

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed Development problems: Strategic: Resource degradation and associated livelihood insecurity during the reconstruction phase in post-conflict countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Location-specific: Resource degradation and problems of security of access to land and natural resources in areas of return of refugees in Ethiopia and Manica Province, Mozambique. Identification of constraints and opportunities for reconstruction of sustainable and participatory RNR management institutions in post-conflict situations, and their role in environmental rehabilitation. Identification of appropriate framework for analysing RNR institutions in post-conflict countries.

More efficient and participatory policy and institutional models for local level management and regulation of RNR successfully developed and promoted in 2 case study regions.

Regional constraints on RNR management identified and prioritised, and conclusions promoted. Reconstruction of Natural Resource Management Institutions in Post-Conflict Countries highlighted the need for a dynamic approach to RNR management institutions. Although definition of the 'post-conflict' phase is not straightforward, and population movements and the emergence of an institutional vacuum can pose constraints to sustainable RNR management, this phase can provide a 'window of opportunity' for new initiatives. However, although this provides space for participatory approaches, such approaches must bear in mind the often highly negative experience of local people and institutions in their relationship with the state, and differing perceptions of what 'participation' is. In addition, although there are a number of local institutions of relevance to management of RNR, these have often not historically focussed on RNR, they may not be especially 'participatory' or gender-sensitive, and their legitimacy is often contested at local level. Indeed, intra-community difference creates significant problems for RNR management, and is exacerbated by displacement and return that may create groups with particular survival strategies that affect RNR, or different perspectives on the level of degradation, which challenge dominant narratives.

The research has generated two further research projects. One of these, funded by USAID, is on institutionalisation of NRM in relation to state and market forces. The second is on the history of colonial conservation policy in Mozambique, and is being funded by ESRC.

Conflict Between Farmers and Herders in Semi-Arid Africa: An analysis of Literature and Experience.

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed One of the most widely accepted (poorly substantiated) propositions in relation to changing patterns of interaction between crop and livestock productionin the semi-arid areas of Africa is that, over the last two decades, conflict between farmers and livestock keepers hsa increased significantly and/or changed in nature, and that urgent action is warranted. ,Increasing conflict, between farmers and livestock keepers is cited repeatedly by policy makers, development workers and researchers throughout semi-arid Africa (but particularly in the Sahel and East Africa), and is one critical element in the justification for a variety of institutional and technical interventions, from grazing reserves to pastoral associations and land tenure reform in those regions. The claims of increasing conflict are used to justify a number of policy and programme initiatives. If these claims are either incorrect, mis-stated or over simplified, then policy and programmes based upon them are likely to be ineffective. Interactions between farmers and herders at the interface between the pastoral and crop-livestock systems identified and management strategies for livestock production. While this was a preliminary study, it seems likely that potentially it will have some positive impact on attempts to improve the performance of livestock production systems in semi-arid areas. Specifically, by calling attention to the lack of data to support claims of increasing conflict, the project's outputs will (1) stimulate further research in this important area, and (2) help to avoid policies and programmes based on assumptions of increasing conflict. Review and analysis of present understanding of importance of and factors affecting conflict between farmers and livestock keepers in semi-arid Africa. ,Review and analysis of present understanding of importance of and factors affecting conflict between farmers and livestock keepers in semi-arid Africa,. A detailed review and analysis as produced. Specifically, this document (a) develops a framework for the analysis of conflict between farmers and herders, and (b) in using this framework to examine literature and experience, concludes that there is little substantial evidence to support claims for increasing levels or changing types of conflct between farmers and herders. This conclusion has important implications for policy makers, planners and development organisations alike.

,Recommendations regarding the priorities for further research in this area,. The report suggests a series of relevant research questions, and recommendations concerning the types of data to be collected and high priority research sites.

,Publication of the review.,

Management of conflict in tropical fisheries

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed Increasingly, the institutional arrangements through which tropical fisheries have been managed are breaking down under the pressure of rapid change. This applies both to ,traditional, systems of local management and their more formal, modern ,command and control, counterparts. The resulting conflicts over resource use can have a number of negative impacts on the resource's potential to provide livelihood support: conflict expenditures by fishers will reduce net benefits derived from the fishery, the adoption of sub-optimal harvesting strategies will lead to rent dissipation and threaten the sustainability of the fishery. This is especially critical in tropical countries where alternative livelihood options are often severely limited and where fisheries are often viewed as ,resource of the last resort,. There is a widespread need to develop both an awareness of, and capacity to manage, the rapid change which can lead to conflict. This can ony be achieved through a deeper understanding of the process of change and conflict development within tropical fisheries. The development of a typology and analytical framework for change and conflict in tropical fisheries will provide a theoretical basis for building both awareness and managerial capacity. In turn, this should lead to a more dynamic institutional environment better able to cope with change, and minimise the negative effects of conflict. To facilitate the prediction, avoidance and resolution of conflict in tropical fisheries through the development of a multi-disciplinary conflict typology which can be used as a framework for conflict management. The outputs have increased knowledge on the types of conflicts that exist in tropical fisheries and how they are currently managed. The project also moved the debate on conflict management forward by establishing how communities perceive conflicts and how these perceptions differ from policy makers. Lack of comprehension of differing perceptions is often responsible for failed attempts by government to improve upon natural resource management strategies. Outputs from this project will help improve government NR management strategies. Research conducted by this project has established that conflicts over natural resources are complex and dynamic and need to be treated as such by policy makers. Policy makers (both international donors and national governments) need to tackle the longer-term, underlying issues surrounding conflicts if they are to make any headway in the battle for poverty reduction and the support of sustainable livleihoods. The development of a package of tools to assess conflict will help fisheries management conduct 'conflict audits' in future. Such audits will ensure that new initiatives do not exacerbate conflicts already present in communities. Finally, improving knowledge of how conflicts are managed and how this process mght be improved empowers poor resource users to take charge of their own livelihoods - increasing their human capital in the process. The determinants and impacts of fishery conflict understood from a multi-disciplinary perspective (socio-anthropology, political, institutional, environmental and economics) and the information disseminated.

Approaches and tools for conflict assessment and management developed and promoted.

General policy recommendations framework by which conflict can be reduced through appropriate institutional arrangements and improved fishery management developed and promoted. A typology of the determinants and impacts of fishery conflict drawn up from a multi-disciplinary perspective; approaches and tools for conflict assessment and management developed and promoted; policy recommendations for the reduction of conflict.

Workshop on the social and economic costs of conflict in developing countries

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed To support the attendance of participants to the workshop

Action Research on Microfinance in Post-Conflict Situations

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed Poverty and conflict are inextricably linked. Economic, environmental and socio-cultural factors are now understood to be far more influential in driving violent conflict than the more conventional military and political factors.

The strong correlation between poverty and conflict is reflected in the facts below:

*In the past 15 years, about 15 of the world's twenty poorest countries have experienced violent conflict

*About half of the world's low income countries are either engaged in conflict or are in the process of transition from conflict.

*In the 1990s about seventy million of the world's poor have been displaced from their homes as a result of conflict.

One-third of African countries have produced refugees. How the international community supports civilians and military personnel affected by conflict, and also prevents future conflict from occurring, remains a pressing issue. The short-term solutions of most relief interventions have in some cases contributed to old troubles recurring.

Donor funds pledged to ensure peace at all costs have distorted markets, flooded small economies and made future long-term development more difficult to achieve. It is widely recognised that PCM has the potential to assist poor people, affected by or involved in conflict . Waiting for the process of reconstruction to be under way before initiating microfinance projects is now believed to be a missed opportunity. Potentially, PCM may provide the following benefits:

*Improved access to financial services when all other formal and informal service providers have ceased their operations.

*Improved access to cash to enable the self-employed to resume economic activity in areas where self-employment is commonly the only means of household income generation.

*Support for the reconstruction of the financial system, which is invariably damaged by conflict.

*A relatively smooth transition from short-term humanitarian assistance to longer-term development.

*Improved national microfinance policies by enabling microfinance practitioners to contribute to the national microfinance policy debate thus ensuring that the needs of the poor are accounted for. To enhance the awareness, skills and knowledge available to implement successful post conflict microfinance (PCM) projects for the poor. A report reviewing experience of PCM in 5 organisations in Cambodia, Mozambique, Rwanda and Angola, produced and disseminated.

Draft best practice principles and draft PCM tools for testing.

PCM model developed and tested within an operational environment.

A toolbox assisting emergency relief workers with PCM projects produced and disseminated.

Best practice guidelines for poverty focussed PCM produced and disseminated.

The needs of the urban poor versus environmental protection: Conflict in urban agriculture (ESCOR)

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed

Gender sensitive programme design and planning in conflict affected situations

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed The project will document case studies of ACORD programmes operating in conflict affected situations, using a range of research methods and informed by a variety of analytical approaches, and will develop from this enhanced frameworks for gender sensitive conflict research and project design.

Natural Resources Management and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Compatibility or Conflict?

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Completed While great importance has been attached to community-based initiatives for successful sustainable natural resource management, and legislation enacted to promote this, little attention has yet been paid to the institutional links necessary to make these policies operational acoss the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Examples of laws passed or under discussion include the Community Natural Resource Management Bill in Malawi, and the Land Bill, Environment Protection Bill and Natural Resources Management Act in Zimbabwe. The majority of rural small farmers remain dependent on natural resources for their food security, so declining resource productivity is of primary importance for them. Little research has been undertaken on the role of local resource management mechanisms under these changes. New legislation and community-based initatives are seen as the way to promote sustainable use of NR, but little systematic research has been carried out on the linkages between the key components (eg: land reforms, capacity of local institutions and efficiency of traditional systems). Land is a particular focus of these debates in the sub-region, and governments and donors have acknowledged the need to incorporate grassroots perspectives. However, little progress has so far been made. The experience of both NGOs in Malawi and Zimbabwe suggests the need to look carefully at the institutions that are being used (or it is planned to use) to channel land reform policies through in terms of their applicability in local situations, and the degree to which they devolve power from the centre. Failure to consider local reality in developing macro policy options has been demonstrated to have negative effects for people's livelihoods. Specific research questions to be investigated include: (1) How the recent and proposed land reform initiatives in Zimbabwe and Malawi either enhance or undermine traditional community-based NRM (CBNRM) systems? This question would generate policy implications around the issue of designing improved NRM (including land reform) policies which complement and strengthen local CBNRM institutions. (2) What are the implications for women's livelihoods of both ,traditional, CBNRM institutions and ,official, policies and legislation affecting NRM? Policy implications of this research question would focus on finding ways of protecting natural resources, while at the same time enhancing women's access to natural resources, and the livelihoods women derive from them. Policy and institutional requirements for effective equitable and sustainable participatory management of RNR (in particular land, trees and water) understood and promoted to inform provision for development strategies.

To promote sustainable natural resources (NR) management that benefits communities and protects wildlife. A large number of rural communities in Southern Africa are resource-poor and cannot produce enough food for their livelihoods. The communities are therefore increasingly turning to natural resources to maintain their livelihoods. There are strong linkages between NRM and livelihood security. As people use natural resources beyond a sustainable level, their livelihoods will in turn be threatened. Lack of appropriate incentives affect community investment and participation in NRM initiatives. Communities are aware of the livelihood threats of environmental degradation but acknowledge their lack of capacity to transform the situation on their own. Despite lack of capacity, there is a strong willingness by communities to conserve natural resources for their long-term benefit. There are multiple demands on natural resources, including commercialisation of wood products, increasing demand for arable land in communal areas, lack of economic activities and uncontrolled migration processes. This demonstrates that the natural resources area is a very much contested area by various interest groups. The land disputes in Zimbabwe are a typical example. The lack of alternative sources of livelihood pose a serious threat to sustainable NRM, leading to fuel-wood shortage, declining soil fertility, low agricultural production, increased siltation in rivers, lowering water tables and institutional conflicts. This, in turn, is having a negative impact on the livelihoods of rural communities. Resource degradation is crippling the performance of rural economies. Unless something is done to reverse this situation, natural resource degradation will destroy rural livelihoods and economies, in the not too distant future. Many external factors are crippling NRM innovations at a community level, which include the tendency for policy imposition, urbanisation, etc. The local community situation is characterised by institutional fragmentation and confusion. There are no clear roles and responsibilities. The institutional confusion is further compounded by a looming local governance administrative crisis in the management of natural resources, which is characterised by the lack of a vision, lack of participation in policy formulation, poor legislative frameworks, lack of accountability systems, no clear conflict management strategies, no co-ordinated service provision among stakeholders, poor enforcement systems and misplaced priorities. There are conflicting gender interests, relations and marital systems (Malawi) in the utilisation and management of natural resources. There is inadequate understanding of the application of participatory and livelihood approaches in the design and implementation of NRM programmes. There is lack of sharing of lessons and experiences on sustainable NRM options and emerging models. Impact on livelihoods of the interaction between NR institutions and resource ownership/utilisation systems clarified and understood.

Recommendations for improved CBNRM systems developed and promoted. *Project report and set of three briefings
*Syntheses of PRA reports in Malawi and Zimbabwe
*Analysis reports of government NRM policies in Malawi and Zimbabwe
*A set of briefings on critical NRM issues in Zimbabwe and the proceedings of a workshop on the issues.
*Methodology report