Working Effectively in Conflict-affected and Fragile Situations: Briefing Paper G: Act Fast...but Stay Engaged

This 12-page briefing paper from the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID) provides strategies for international engagement in conflict-affected environments. DFID has learned through its experience that conflict dynamics are non-linear - that is, states or particular territories can move in and out of conflict - and so, when dealing with complex, protracted crises, different forms of engagement may need to share the same arena. When planning assistance to capitalise on new openings created by peace agreements or political transitions, DFID normally provides support for a combination of humanitarian assistance and early recovery activities. Both should be delivered in such a way as to lay the groundwork for longer term approaches to development. This paper reviews some of the considerations involved in balancing these different objectives.

DFID uses the term "early recovery" to refer to activities such as: securing stability (including security sector reform); establishing peace (rapid implementation of a peace settlement or establishment of political arrangements); resuscitating markets, livelihoods, and services; and building state capacity to manage political, security, and development processes. These activities collectively seek to deliver a "peace dividend" - which should be understood not as discrete, material benefits to the population, but as a set of convincing political, administrative, and economic processes that establish public confidence that a transition out of conflict is underway. Early recovery requires particular attention to some key issues; for example, assistance must be provided in such a way as to avoid exacerbating tensions and divisions, which entails careful attention to inclusion and equity issues in programme delivery.

Stabilisation is a phase of activity that aims to move from active conflict towards the foundations for peace and development. Emerging guidance and lessons from DFID's experience are offered; communication-related elements include: Where it is necessary for international actors to have direct involvement in basic state functions, there should be plans from the outset as to how and when to transfer ownership. Also, DFID has learned to be inclusive, rather than attempting to pick political winners.

The section of the paper titled "Acting Fast" surveys the range of options available for rapid financing of post-conflict and post-crisis interventions. It focuses on Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), an Emergency Response Fund (ERF), the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), UN Consolidated Appeals Processes (CAPs), Common Humanitarian Funds (CHFs), Multi-Donor Trust Funds (MDTFs), the World Bank State and Peace-Building Fund (SPF), and channelling funding through United Nations (UN) agencies. According to DFID, optimal combination and sequencing of funding channels to support a rapid response will depend upon a range of country-specific factors (see page 9 of the document for decision-making criteria).

The section of the paper titled "Staying Engaged" outlines DFID's movement to make long-term commitments, in the form of 10-year Development Partnership Arrangements (DPAs). Communication is central to this process, with annual dialogue mechanisms put in place to allow both parties to assess their own and the other's performance. DPAs provide for a graduated response in the event of problems in the relationship, beginning from heightened dialogue, with suspension of assistance treated as a last resort.

Key lessons learned include are offered next. For instance, longer-term development initiatives require partnerships with national authorities that can take longer to establish. DFID stresses the need to be realistic about the time frames required to develop different instruments. Funding mechanisms require careful supervision and political support.