Prosperity for peace – Volume 5, Issue 1 (February 2016)

Download GREAT Insights Editorial Dr. San Bilal and Volker Hauck
Head of Economic Transformation Programme, and Head of Conflict, Security and Resilience Programme (respectively), ECDPM
Addressing the root causes of fragility will be critical to realising the Global Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Yet while global matters are interconnected in a complex manner, they are often approached in a fragmented and narrowly specialised way. This is especially common when addressing peacebuilding and development in fragile and conflict-prone environment, where security and humanitarian approaches generally prevail.

Features
Bread and peace: Linking economic development with peacebuilding
Phil Vernon, Director of Programmes, International Alert
Economic development and peace are both needed by the 1.4 billion people living in fragile, conflict-affected countries. The good news is, economic development initiatives can easily be designed to integrate peacebuilding.

A delicate balance: Economic development and job creation in fragile states
Joanna Buckley and Katie McIntosh, Development Economists, Oxford Policy Management
While economic development - and specifically employment - hold the potential to contribute to peace- and state-building, initiatives focused on growth do not necessarily innately support these goals and, in certain circumstances, even hold the potential to exacerbate conflict.

Regional economic integration in the Horn of Africa: Wishful thinking or a basis for peace?
Bruce Byiers and Sophie Desmidt, Policy Officers, ECDPM
Peacebuilding and economic integration are both long-term gradual processes that must evolve together, with an important regional dimension. No one regional organisation can take full responsibility for this, but by being adaptive and opportunistic, building on bilateral processes and growing economic interdependence while supporting peace resolution, the role for an organisation like IGAD will only grow.

Business and jobs
Business and conflict in fragile states: The case for pragmatic solutions
Brian Ganson, Head of Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement
International policy debates caught up in old ways of looking at business, conflict and fragility are for the most part ignoring violence reduction and conflict management approaches that can mitigate today’s growing conflicts.

Business as driver for development and peace
Sofia Birkestad Svingby and Jonas Borglin, Director of Operations and CEO (respectively), International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR)
As multinational companies increasingly seek new business opportunities in fragile environments the question arises: How to do good business while contributing to economic development and peace?

Making international standards on responsible business fit for purpose and prosperity in fragile and conflict affected environments
Kathryn Nwajiaku, Head of Secretariat, International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding
Most international standards for responsible business conduct are voluntary and place no obligation on companies and governments to implement them. With this in mind, the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding together with SOMO developed a brochure which consolidates and distils those standards most relevant to conflict affected and fragile contexts.

The challenge of economic reintegration of ex-militants in Nigeria’s Niger Delta
Tarila Marclint Ebiede, Young International Professional, ECDPM
Reintegration of ex-combatants in the economy can be a key driver for stability. The experience in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region suggests however that reintegration and training of ex-militants must target sectors with high employment potential, such as agriculture, and not mainly the oil industry.

Finances
Breaking the vicious circles of illicit financial flows, conflict and insecurity
Alex Cobham, Director of Research, Tax Justice Network
Illicit financial flows (IFF) not only thrive on conflict and insecurity but exacerbate both, by undermining the financial and political prospects for effective states to deliver and support development progress. Policies to meet the Sustainable Development Goals’ target of curtailing IFF will also promote peace and security.

Catalysing investment in the most fragile countries
Heike Rüttgers, Head of Division, ACP Policy and Portfolio, European Investment Bank
The European Investment Bank supports EU policies around the world, something which is extended to those fragile countries that need investment the most. The Bank takes a proactive approach to its projects, showing adaptability and flexibility in the financial products it offers, but also devising new instruments such as the Impact Financing Envelope to reach further than ever before. The Sustainable Development Goals adopted in September 2015 by the United Nations set ambitious targets, and we are matching those ambitions.

Integrating economic development approaches into peacebuilding in the Central African Republic Irchad Razaaly, Bêkou Trust Fund Manager, EU Commission, DG DEVCO
The Bêkou Trust Fund, the first ever European Trust Fund, has been established to go beyond humanitarian assistance and stimulate economic recovery as well as strengthen stability in Central African Republic.

The EU Trust Fund for Africa: A new EU instrument to accelerate peace and prosperity?
Alisa Herrero and Anna Knoll, Policy Officers, ECDPM
EU Trust Funds have been recently set up to deliver more flexible, swift, comprehensive and effective joint EU support in response to emergencies, fragility and other thematic priorities. Yet, expectations need to be managed, with regards to what impact can be realistically achieved with a little extra cash.

Regulars Talking Points Blog highlights

This publication benefits from structural support by ECDPM's institutional partners The Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Denmark.

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