Making peace across borders a reality
By Michael Brown, Chief Technical Adviser, Peace and Development, UNDP Ecuador

Ecuador´s northern border has been historically marginalized, and this has resulted in high levels of poverty and limited social services and infrastructure. In recent years, this vulnerable zone has also suffered from the destabilizing consequences of the crisis across the Colombian border. Over 60,000 Colombians have fled their country and now live in northern Ecuador. Other effects of the cross-border crisis include trafficking in small arms and drugs.

When former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan visited Ecuador in 2003, the Ecuadorian President requested the help of the United Nations to tackle challenges in this part of the country. In response, the United Nations established the Peace and Development Programme in the Northern Border Zone (the Programme) of Ecuador.

The Programme combines the work of 16 UN agencies, and supports activities that reduce the potential for violent conflict in the areas of justice, human rights, small arms control, livelihoods, environmental protection and health, among others. For instance, the Programme made available small grants to communities to support peacebuilding efforts. As a result, conflicts related to the use of natural resources were resolved by communities themselves. In each case, the community developed a common understanding of the conflict and defined joint actions to prevent the situation from deteriorating. Working with the national Ecuadorian Secretariat responsible for border relations with Colombia, the Programme also facilitated mutual understanding of the cross-border challenges between decision-makers of both countries. Since its establishment in 2006, the Programme has provided advice to the Government of Ecuador in the development of a peace and development strategy for the northern border.

Finally, the Programme has helped integrate conflict prevention in the work of UN agencies operating in the northern border. For instance, UNHCR adjusted its initial focus on the rights of refugees and other populations in need of international protection to also include Ecuadorians and Colombians living in border communities. As a result, relations between these communities are strengthened and possible tensions avoided. CPR

Listen to Michael Brown, Chief Technical Adviser, Peace and Development, UNDP Ecuador, discusses how UNDP is engaged in the Northern Border Zone of Ecuador (streaming audio or mp3)

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In this Issue

> Prevention of electoral violence
> No Peace without Development
> Hope in the midts of destruction
> Making peace across borders a reality
> Spotlight on Staff

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