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Peacebuilding

Private Sector Development in (post-) conflict situations: guidebook

Developing, monitoring and implementing a  post-conflict programme



Authors: D. Bagwitz; R. Elges; H. Grossman
Publisher: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, 2008

Full text of document

Grievance, inequality and economic disparity are frequent - and deadly - drivers of conflict. Even during the proceeding post-conflict ‘peace’, where ‘official’ declarations have been signed to formally announce the end of intra-state conflict such senses of injustice can still be keenly felt by the respective society. A principle driver to building peace is economic recovery. This can create opportunity, empower and gradually lessen inequality and disparity. However, as many post-conflict states are exceedingly fragile international actors need to ensure that proposed programmes and projects do not excaberate an already  tense environment.
 
This guidebook seeks to provide information for development actors on how to develop, implement and monitor conflict-sensitive programmes. The document is split into five main sections, covering:

  • the links between economy, conflict and development
  • tools and methods for conflict-sensitive development
  • planning Private Sector Development (PSD) interventions in (post-) conflict situations
  • managing and implementing PSD interventions in (post-) conflict situations
  • monitoring and evaluating PSD interventions in (post-) conflict situations.

The guidebook places considerable emphasis on the Peace and Conflict Assessment (PCA) tool as the principle methodology for designing an appropriate ‘post-conflict’ project. It stresses that such an assessment can:

  • maximise the impact of the desired outcomes of the intervention by supporting their sustainability
  • reduce unintended negative impacts of interventions that not only hamper successful implementation, but also undermine the credibility of development cooperation
  • minimise conflict risks for personnel, intervention goals and investments
  • and contribute to crisis prevention, conflict transformation or peacebuilding, where and
    whenever possible.