UN Dept of Political Affairs - Translating Conflict Assessment Methodologies Into Effective Strategies
Semester: Spring 2010
Project Proposal for New School Independent Study Project
November 2009
The Policy Planning and Mediation Support Unit in the UN's Department of Political Affairs proposes this project option for the New School Independent Studies Team under the supervision of Ambassador Rafat Mahdi.
I. Building a Knowledge Base on Conflict Prevention
This project assisted the Policy Planning Unit's efforts to strengthen the UN Department of Political Affairs' conflict prevention policies. As part of these efforts, PPU intends to establish a "knowledge base" on conflict prevention theory and practice.
As a first step, students undertook a thorough review of the academic and policy literature on conflict prevention. This literature review distilled the state of the theoretical debate, review quantitative studies, explore trends, and compile key findings of case studies, including successes and failures of conflict prevention efforts.
The second part of this projectconsisted of a mapping of the regional and subregional conflict prevention architecture. This included an analysis of the normative frameworks, structures, policies, capacities and past performance of regional and subregional organizations in the area of conflict prevention.
A third part of this study explored the state of knowledge on causes of and dynamics around electoral violence and on available tools to prevent such violence. The second and third part of this project would involve both reviewing the academic and policy literature as well as a series of interviews with practitioners.
II. Translating conflict assessment methodologies into effective strategies.
Over the past decade, governments, aid agencies and think tanks have developed increasingly sophisticated conflict assessment methodologies. A common challenge facing all organisations carrying out such assessments is to translate them into effective peacebuilding or conflict prevention strategies.
The team undertook a comparative evaluation of a number of existing conflict assessment methodologies used by governments, international organizations, aid agencies, and think tanks. It explored the respective strengths and weaknesses of these methodologies. The project also explored how different actors translate the results of these assessments into effective (conflict prevention and/or peacebuilding) strategies and policies and what challenges they encounter along the way. The research based on existing documents as well as interviews with key practitioners in governments and international organizations in charge of developing and implementing the assessment methodologies.
Core Documents
Terms of Reference
Timeline
Final Presentation
Additional Documents
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