Conflict Prevention

In more than 40 countries around the world, violent conflict has torn through farmland, villages and cities. Throughout the world today, there are some 35 million survivors of conflict—10 million refugees and 25 million internally displaced persons. It has invaded their communities; destroyed their homes and livelihoods; killed, maimed and tortured loved ones; and exposed daughters, wives and sisters to sexual violence.

UNDP helps address the structural causes of violent conflict through development programmes that promote participation, dispute resolution and gender equality. UNDP takes a three-pronged approach to conflict prevention:

Fast FactFind out more about UNDP conflict prevention efforts in our Fast Facts: Conflict prevention(pdf)

News

Laying the Groundwork for Peace in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2008

Conflict Prevention and Gender, 2007

Including Women in Conflict Prevention, 2007

PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

 Democratic Dialogue: A Handbook for Practitioners, 2007 (pdf)

This handbook reflects current practice in the field and draws on concrete experiences of practitioners and actors in various regions.

AudioVoices From Countries in Crisis

Ecuador - Michael Brown, Peace and Development Advisor, discusses how UNDP is engaged in the Northern Border Zone of Ecuador (streaming audion or mp3)

Ghana - Ozonnia Ojielo, Senior  Peace and Development Advisor discusses national efforts to consolidate peace in Ghana (streaming audio or mp3)

Ghana - Ozonnia Ojielo, Senior  Peace and Development Advisor discusses community justice mechanisms in Ghana (streaming audio or mp3)

Laying the Groundwork for Peace in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Valeria Izzi, Programme Specialist, Conflict Prevention, discusses her experience consulting with local stakeholders in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (streaming audio or mp3)

Philippines - Alma Evangelista, Conflict Advisor, describes how UNDP supports indigenous women in the Philippines (streaming audio or mp3)

Video

JSSRWatch a video about UNDP efforts in conflict prevention and security featuring Peter Batchelor, Leader of the Conflict Team.

Proposal

Conflict ProposalLearn more about UNDP programming in our Donor Proposal on Conflict Prevention and Recovery (pdf).

SPECIAL INITIATIVE

Youth and Violent Conflict: Identifying and including the specific needs of youth is essential to design effective responses for conflict prevention and peace building. UNDP has launched an initiative to better understand the interrelations between youth and violent conflict and published a report titled Youth and Violent Conflict: Society and Development in Crisis? (pdf) in 2006. Based on the report's recommendations, UNDP is now codifying country experiences with youth-related programming to develop practical guidance.

MORE ON UNDP's WORK WITH YOUTH:

Youth and Armed Violence Prevention in El Salvador, 2008

Engaging Palestinian Youth in Civil Society, 2008

Addressing Youth and Conflict in Liberia, 2008