Peace Processes

Peace processes are negotiations between adversaries that assist a transformation of a society's conflict dynamics. Determining how best to support these processes has always been a challenge for development personnel. USAID has worked on creating strategies for constructively interacting with conflict dynamics within the wider ecology of local, interagency, and international actors.

This toolkit is grounded in a comprehensive survey of USAID peace process activities to compile lessons about program success or failure. It is neither a programming plan nor a policy document, but instead guidance intended to help USAID staff and their implementing partners understand how to use development resources to support various forms of peace processes.

Download: Supporting Peace Processes (PDF - 1.9 MB)

 

Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding

Religion is often viewed as a motive for conflict and has emerged as a key component in many current and past conflicts. However, religion does not always drive violence; it is also an integral factor in the peacebuilding and reconciliation process. As a main mobilizing force in many societies, proper engagement of religion and its leaders is crucial. Yet, many at USAID and elsewhere in the development community view religion with uncertainty, viewing it as a sensitive and possibly dangerous topic.

The aim of this Toolkit is to help lower the discomfort of development professionals in making the analytical and programmatic connections between conflict, religion and peacebuilding.

Download: Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding (PDF - 4.9 MB)

 

On Monday, March 8, 2010, USAID hosted an event marking the release of the latest Toolkit produced by the Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM), Religion, Conflict & Peacebuilding: An Introductory Programming Guide. Following opening remarks by CMM Director Neil Levine, the audience of roughly 60 USAID and State Department employees, inter-agency partners, NGOs, and academics, heard from three panelists:

• Mr. Joshua DuBois, Executive Director of the White House Office for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships;
• Dr. Marc Gopin, Director of the Center on Religion, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University (GMU/ICAR); and,
• Dr. Douglas Johnston, President and Founder of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy

  Audio files (MP3) are available for download to be listened to on your computer or digital music player (iPod, Zune, etc.).
  Presentations (mp3, 28 MB, 49 minutes)
  Transcript (pdf, 197kb)

  ---

Community-Based Development in Conflict-Affected Areas

Community-Based Development (CBD) programming has emerged as a preferred programming option in conflict-affected areas. Rehabilitating conflict-torn countries to avoid a return to conflict remains difficult. CBD programs can be critical interventions that can help donors and implementing partners address the many attendant problems conflict-affected communities face. CBD programs focus on local actors with the hope of addressing the root sources of conflict at a community-level, supporting livelihoods, and building local capacity to solve problems in an inclusive and non-violent manner.

This guide describes the lessons learned by donors who have incorporated the CBD methodology into their programming, suggests programming approaches, and provides both potential partners and the resources necessary to implement this approach.

Download: Community-Based Development (PDF - 4.45 MB)

 

Forests and Conflict

Covering 36 million square kilometers, or roughly 30 percent of the globe, the world's forests are among its most important natural resources. However, forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Competition for these resources can trigger, exacerbate and finance numerous crises and conflicts in developing countries.

This toolkit is designed to raise awareness about the linkages among timber, forest management, and conflict; and to help officers integrate a conflict perspective into their development programming.

Download: Forests and Conflict (PDF - 1.3 MB)

 

Land and Conflict

People have fought over land since the beginning of recorded history. Population growth and environmental stresses have exacerbated the perception of land as a dwindling resource, tightening the connection between land and violent conflict. Land can also be a critical element in peace-building and economic reconstruction in post-conflict situations.

This toolkit provides a practical introduction to the relationship between land and violent conflict, whether we are talking about how land issues function as causal or aggravating factor s in conflict, or whether we are thinking about land issues that arise in post-conflict settings.

Download: Land and Conflict (PDF - 1.9 MB)

Livelihoods and Conflict

Livelihood failure can contribute to the emergence of conflict by weakening the social fabric of a society, making people resort to violence to obtain necessary resources, and increasing individuals' vulnerability to those with an interest in promoting conflict for political or economic gain. At the same time, conflict is a major threat to livelihoods.

This toolkit shows how violent conflict can affect individual and community access to essential resources and how an approach that focuses on strengthening that access can help people survive and recover from conflict. It also explains how, if livelihood support is offered early enough, conflict may be avoided.

Download: Livelihoods and Conflict (PDF - 3.4 MB)
 
 

Minerals and Conflict

What is the relationship among jewelry, cell phones, Al Qaeda, and child soldiers? They are all linked to valuable minerals, and in many places, valuable minerals have been linked to violence. The physical and market characteristics of valuable minerals create the potential for negative impacts on peace and security.

Choosing to work with strategic mineral resources in high-risk settings can be extremely difficult. However, where feasible, such interventions have the potential to reap multifold benefits. This toolkit explores the issues and offers practical guidance for programming.

Download: Minerals and Conflict (PDF - 2 MB)

Youth and Conflict

In many developing countries, young people are coming of age in societies that lack stable government, economic growth, or basic material and physical security. In such circumstances, youth often turn away from the authority and ideology of older generations and seek to mobilize their own generation in search of solutions. In many places, young people have been a powerful force or constructive change. However, this same power can serve destructive purposes if, for example, youth are exploited by proponents of radical ideologies or if they see to improve their situation by dominating others.

This toolkit is designed to help raise awareness about the linkages between young people, development aid, and conflict; and to help officers integrate a conflict perspective into their development programming.

Download: Youth and Conflict (PDF - 1.9 MB)

Women and Conflict

While conflict inflicts suffering on everyone, women are particularly affected by its short- and long-term effects. Sexual assault and exploitation are frequently employed as tools of war; victimization leads to isolation, alienation, prolonged emotional trauma, and unwanted pregnancies that often result in abandoned children. Conflict shatters the comfort of predictable daily routines and expectations. Women and girls are equally affected in a fragile environment where social services they once depended on degrade or disappear.

This introductory guide describes the ways in which conflict and fragility may increase gender inequities and suggests programming approaches that address these issues while building on the strengths of women.

Download: Women and Conflict (PDF - 2 MB)