December 2012

Research this month

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Local First

Local First is a development approach that looks first for the capacity within countries before bringing in external expertise and resources

Local First is an approach to international development that prioritises the views and leadership of people and organisations in the countries affected, over those of outsiders from the international community. The campaign had it's UK launch this month.

Usalama project

The Usalama Project, from the Rift Valley Institute, seeks to provide in depth information about the conflict in Eastern DR Congo. Over the next year the project will produce a series of reports on the conflicts an parties involved. The first two reports are From CNDP to M23: The Evolution of an Armed Movement in the Eastern Congo and North Kivu: The Background to Conflict in North Kivu Province of the Eastern Congo.

Demobilisation and disarmament in peace processes

Rebel movements will usually only agree to formally disarm and disband their troops and dismantle their command structures once they are confident that they can ensure the safety and well-being of their combatants

Demobilisation and disarmament in peace processes, from NOREF, is a short policy brief on the circumstances in which armed groups agree to demobilise and disarm. The paper offers recommendations to mediators and peacebuilders.

Traditional authorities’ peacemaking role in Darfur

 As broader peace efforts have faltered, interest has increased in the capacity of local communities in Darfur to regulate conflict in their midst.

Traditional authorities’ peacemaking role in Darfur, from USIP, examines the role of traditional justice mechanisms and traditional leaders in conflict resolution in Darfur.

Crisis management and conflict prevention in Eastern Europe and the Balkans: Lessons for Ukraine-EU Cooperation

[This book] contributes to the debate on reinforcing the European Union’s crisis management and emergency response capabilities, offering a genuinely comparative approach and focusing on the evolving ability of the Union to respond to emergencies and disasters through more effective  institutional and cross border cooperation.

Crisis management and conflict prevention in Eastern Europe and the Balkans is a collection of articles on EU crisis management and conflict prevention in Eastern Europe, in the context of EU-Ukraine relations. The book includes a chapter on the role of civil society in conflict management.

Strengthening civil society? Reflections on international engagement in fragile states

In fragile states, even more than elsewhere, civil society matters. But the shape and form it takes differs widely and that variation needs to be taken seriously if civil society is to play its important role in contributing to a transition out of fragility.

Strengthening civil society, from ECDPM, discusses the issues around international engagement with civil society in fragile states. The paper looks at the challenges of engaging with civil society and the changing role of outside actors.

From the blog

Post-2015 debate must include voices from the front line

Lord Jack McConnell argues that the Millennium Development Goals have largely ignored the link between conflict, development and peacebuilding. Whatever replaces them in 2015 must address conflict and include local voices. Read more »

How can young people break cycles of violence in Burundi?

With the celebration of fifty years of independence for Burundi, a number of youth-orientated organisations question why young people are still being manipulated and forced to repeat the atrocities of former years. There is a deep sense of frustration that young people are not heeding the lessons of history, and anger that the political powers are still manipulating the young people of Burundi. Read more »