Crisis Prevention and Recovery

Fast Facts

Crisis Prevention & Recovery

Click here to dwonload PDF version

UNDP’s crisis prevention and recovery efforts focus on the development dimension of crisis situations.  To this end, UNDP works to prevent armed conflicts, reduce the impact of disasters, and to promote early recovery after crises have occurred.  Through our country offices, UNDP staff support local government in needs assessment, capacity development, coordinated planning, and policy and standard setting. 

Prevention and Risk Reduction
UNDP works to prevent and reduce the impacts of two types of crises:  natural disasters and armed conflict.  While the dynamics of disaster and conflict situations differ, there are approaches which are common to both. 

Conflict Prevention and Peace-building
UNDP promotes prevention and peace-building to reduce and avert conflict.   Building skills among key stakeholders enables them to convene problem-solving discussions as an alternative to violence.  Raising awareness of contentious issues for development planners and policymakers allows them to integrate prevention measures into the long-term development agenda. UNDP undertakes its prevention and peacebuilding activities in collaboration with the UN Department of Political Affairs, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions.

In partnership with the Department of Political Affairs, UNDP has worked since early 2005 to launch Strengthening National Capacities for Conflict Prevention and Conflict Transformation in Kenya.  Led by local government and civil society, this program focuses on building capacities of provincial and local officials for working with civil society to anticipate and respond to potentially violent conflicts.  At the national level, the program supports members of parliament, senior government officials, and civic leaders to acquire skills for negotiating, managing conflict, and forming consensus.  Growing out of this effort, the Office of the President established the National Steering Committee on Peace-building and Conflict Management which is comprised of members of government, civil society, donors, and UNDP. 

Natural Disaster Prevention and Risk Reduction
UNDP has contributed to a large portfolio of natural disaster risk management programs spread over 60 countries.  UNDP assists in identifying the causal factors of disasters, researching new risk patterns (such as those related to weather and climate change), supporting national disaster reduction strategies, and responding to sudden on-set crises such as earthquakes and mudslides.  UNDP’s overall priority is facilitating knowledge exchange, and setting regional and international standards and policy.  In addition, we emphasize developing the human and institutional capacity of governments and other UN agencies. For all its natural disaster activities, UNDP operates within the framework of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction which aims at building disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development.

As a result of UNDP’s effort to have natural disaster prevention integrated into development planning, Pakistan is incorporating risk reduction measures into recovery programs following its December 2005 earthquake. Similarly, following the 2004 tsunami, with UNDP assistance Sri Lanka has developed a national roadmap for disaster risk reduction.

Recovery
Following disasters and armed conflict, UNDP assists UN country offices and national governments to stabilize human security and lay the foundation for a return to normalcy. Recovery is a multi-dimensional process which begins in the early phases of a humanitarian response.  UNDP has been selected to lead early recovery activities on behalf of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), a coordinating body for UN and non-UN humanitarian partners. 

Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration
of Ex-combatants
Following a violent conflict, former combatants pose a threat to security.  Failure to address their needs can undermine the peace process and result in a slide back into war.  Programs that disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate former combatants have become critical to post-conflict transition and peace building. This work with ex-combatants is one step in a larger process of reducing the incidence of armed violence through the collection, stockpile management, and destruction of small arms and light weapons. UNDP works with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to implement integrated disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration standards which to date have been applied in Haiti and Sudan.

One current example of work with ex-combatants is in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  While the focus of the program was on ex-combatants, related populations -- often forgotten after a conflict -- were included as well.  UNDP considered the special needs of women forced to act as sex workers for combatants and children who were coerced into bearing arms and providing support services.

Mine Action
UNDP is charged with addressing the obstacle to economic activity and long-term development presented by landmine contamination.   At the country level, UNDP helps to develop removal strategies; supports national management systems; assists with the implementation of landmine-related legal obligations; provides training; raises citizen awareness of how to manage landmine risks; and advocates for the inclusion of mine action in national development plans.  UNDP is currently providing assistance in the handling, storage, and destruction of landmine stockpiles in Iraq, where caches of munitions fuel ongoing conflict and contribute to the insurgency.

At the global level, UNDP helps to develop tools for mine action practitioners such as the UN Mine Action Strategy for 2006-2010 and the International Mine Action Standards. 
UNDP also provides substantive support to the Forum of
Mine-Affected Countries that enables exchanges between countries that share the burden of landmines. UNDP works in close collaboration with other UN agencies and departments, including the United Nations Mine Action Service.

Reintegration of Displaced Persons
A major consequence of conflict is displacement.  Today, there exist over 34 million refugees and internally displaced persons, mainly in Africa.  UNDP’s country offices develop holistic, integrated reintegration and rehabilitation plans for areas of return.  Working closely with UNHCR, UNICEF, and other UN agencies, as well as  NGO and government partners, UNDP works to rebuild communities. Here, we focus both on the visible reconstruction of, for example, roads and houses and on the more intangible but crucial social capital aspects.  At the same time, UNDP assists local authorities to lead the process of expanding access to social services and justice through provision of technical assistance and training. 
UNDP’s country office in Uganda is currently developing an early recovery plan for northern Uganda where some 1.7 million persons are displaced.  Other such assistance has been provided in Liberia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, the Balkans, Georgia and Russia (north Caucasus).

Risk Reduction and Restoration of Basic Services
Following disasters, UNDP works to ensure that risks associated with natural hazards are reduced during recovery and reconstruction.  This includes making sure that reconstructed infrastructure and restored livelihoods are less vulnerable to future hazard events.  Early recovery operations also encompass the transition from reliance on relief assistance to reliance on local resources for meeting basic needs such as water, food, shelter, and health care.  Restoring democratic and economic governance is also a key priority.

Transitional Justice and Security Sector Reform
Following violent conflict, it is necessary to provide closure to past events and establish the enabling environment for a safe future.  UNDP assists in the design and implementation of transitional justice activities including truth commissions, reparations, and reconciliation events.  UNDP is also involved in the return of rule of law through equitable enforcement of rules and regulations. 

One recent example of UNDP’s security sector reform work is in Haiti. This project aims to strengthen the Ministry of Justice in its planning and coordinating role, contribute to the installment of an equitable criminal law, and support the penitentiary administration in respecting human rights and improving the conditions of detention.

For further information contact:
External Relations
Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery
Telephone: (212) 906 6175
Or visit: www.undp.org

July 2006