Pathways from Peace to Resilience: Evidence from the Greater Horn of Africa on the Links between Conflict Management and Resilience to Food Security Shocks
Publisher: USAID
Date: 2015
Topics: Climate Change, Humanitarian Assistance, Livelihoods, Programming, Renewable Resources
Building resilience has become a primary development aim in the Horn of Africa and other areas facing recurrent humanitarian crises. To date, the resilience agenda has focused largely on predicting and preparing for climatic shocks – such as droughts and floods – and market shocks, with little examination of conflict and other political shocks. Even less understood is how strategies to address violent conflict affect communities and households’ resilience to natural and economic shocks. This reflects a troubling mismatch given that fragile and conflict-affected contexts are those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and other natural hazards (Kellett & Sparks, 2012) and the evidence linking conflict to greater vulnerability to disasters (Harris, Keen, & Mitchell, 2013).
A better understanding of the links between conflict and resilience is vital because chronic violence and instability are pervasive in many of the areas where major investments in resilience are being made. Yet how best to build such resilience in conflict contexts remains unclear. Mercy Corps under took research in the greater Horn of Africa to contribute to filling this critical knowledge gap. The central question this research seeks to answer is: How do conflict management and peacebuilding programs affect resilience to shocks and stresses in pastoral areas in the greater Horn of Africa?