Special Topics: Conflict Analysis at Int

Understanding the root causes and drivers of conflict and peace are essential when designing international development interventions of any kind and at all levels. In international development organizations that operate in the fragile and conflict-affected areas of the world, the objective of conflict analysis is a dual one: 1) to improve the effectiveness of international development policy and programming in their contribution to conflict prevention, mitigation, and/or peacebuilding; and 2) to ensure principles of conflict sensitivity and “do no harm” are applied in order to prevent inadvertently worsening existing conflicts or creating new tensions. However, each organization has their own way of undertaking such analysis, which may include an initial literature and desk review, consultations in the field with relevant stakeholders, discussion with the relevant target audience including the Country Director/Resident Coordinator, and final preparation and integration into country strategies and programming. This course will introduce students to the different frameworks and approaches for conflict analysis used within various international development organizations, most significantly within multilaterals like the World Bank (WB) and the United Nations (UN) and its various agencies and entities; as well as government departments and bilateral organizations including the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and the United States Department of State; and finally international non-governmental organizations like Collaborative Learning Projects (CDA). Students will learn how to conduct a conflict analysis (also sometimes called a conflict assessment) at an international organization and will get a chance to work through the issues faced by policymakers in a country-level scenario simulation where they will put the theory and methodologies they have learned to the test. The course will include assigned readings and assignments due before class begins; group and individual assignments for each of the days; and assignments after the active class session ends. During the second day, there will be a discussion with a panel of experts who have conducted conflict assessments at these institutions. Students will leave the course with practical knowledge that will lend itself to conducting conflict assessments at international development organizations and beyond.