W Horizontal and social inequalities are an underlying
structural catalyst for armed violence and require longterm
development engagements; and
W The parties agree to a new vision of the economy and
society that requires expertise in development planning.
The engagement of belligerents
W Development agencies can support communication
channels between NSAGs and the government. The
personal networks established for the agencies’ aid work
provide a strategic asset for mediators and have the
potential to strengthen confidence building measures and
dialogue incentives (see box 1).
W Local and international personnel of development agencies
represent a vast knowledge of local sensitivities, attitudes
and conditions, especially if they have been stationed in
the country for a long time. Risk and stakeholder analyses
as well as conflict monitoring conducted by aid agencies
can be important inputs for mediation processes.
Peace negotiations
W Development agencies represent multiple opportunities
for mediators during peace negotiations. They can:
• Ensure relevant economic issues are placed on the
agenda in a realistic way (see Box 3);
• Develop mechanisms regarding important economic
issues that are likely to become politicised or be ignored
after the peace process;
• Foster realistic expectations among the parties on the
amount and nature of development assistance after
the peace agreement has been signed; and
• Strengthen a network among relevant stakeholders that
facilitates post-accord delivery of development assistance.
www.graduateinstitute.ch/ccdp
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Box 2:
NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE FOR PEACE IN GHANA
The merger of the classically distinct ‘political’ and ‘development’
communities is exemplified in recent efforts to implement
peace architectures, such as the National Architecture for
Peace in Ghana. The combination of local and national political
leadership, civil society ownership, and assistance from the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United
Nations Department of Political Affairs (UNDPA), and other
donors led to the establishment of a nation-wide system of
dispute resolution institutions. This system is composed of
Local Peace Councils that provide eminent personalities with
the mandate to mediate local disputes. These range from land,
labour or chieftaincy disputes to differences between and within
political parties. Alerted by the post-electoral violence in Kenya,
the system was strengthened to prevent the outbreak of armed
violence during and after Ghana’s 2008 elections. A solid local
and national peace infrastructure will also be important to
maximise the development benefits from Ghana’s recent oil
discoveries, and ensure that these do not dissipate through
political instability or armed violence.
Source: Ministry of Interior of Ghana (MoIG). 2006. National Architecture for
Peace in Ghana. Accra: MoIG. United Nations Department of Political Affairs.
2009. “Conflict Prevention in Partnership with UNDP.” In Politically Speaking
(Spring), p.16. United Nations Development Programme. 2009. Annual Report
2008 of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. New York: UNDP, p. 9.