Peace and Development 2020 – An Analysis of Recent Experiences and Findings

This report’s analysis generally confirms the positive empirical relationship between develop­ment and peace while specifying that inclusion is the central bridge between the two elements. Nonetheless, the processes of develop­ment and peace are complex, may even be at odds under certain circum­stances, and do not follow a linear logic. These complex­ities are inadequately reflected in the ongoing political debate, which reduces the development-peace nexus to a simple reactive stabilization of social and political order. This over­simplification has problematic implications for a nexus-oriented peace and development policy.

The recommendations set forth in this report relate to two over­arching themes:

1.  Understanding the development-peace nexus necessitates an under­standing of peace development as a trans­formational project. Nexus-oriented development cooperation should therefore be aimed at supporting long-term trans­formations in a flexible manner. This demands both soundly assessing and willingly tackling the inherent risks of such an approach, which in turn requires sophisticated, context-specific analytical skills and capacities.

2.  Established goals and strategies must be consistently put into practice. Generally speaking, the key challenge of international develop­ment aid in conflict zones is primarily one of implemen­tation, rather than a problem of lacking of knowledge and expertise. First, this concerns the primacy of prevention, which continues to lack strategic direction, concrete and achievable aims, and adequate financial backing. A second challenge concerns an age-old, central tenet of develop­ment cooperation: coherence. Coherence must be pursued and established at all levels – in the donor country itself, inter­nationally, and “on the ground” in conflict-affected contexts. Taking the truism of coherence seriously and putting it into practice requires novel organizational designs and institutional change.

More information on the project Development for Peace, Peace for Develop­ment - An analysis of current developments, experiences and challenges.