Disasters conflict and crisis management
It is not unlike disaster recovery and risk management
Disasters, conflict and crisis management
How to approach the different interventions required:
conceptual aspects, definition problems and purpose of the interventions
Are they different sides of the same coin: crisis managements associated with disasters and
/ or conflict? Conceptual quagmire
Methodological problems: needs assessments vs. Causal analysis
Operational problems: setting priorities and differentiating emergency from urgency:
simultaneity and sequencing
Policy problems: positive vs. negative intervention; resource allocation vs. policy change
promotion
Vicious circle: Insecurity, conflict and mistrust
Human actions progressively deteriorate the socio-economic fabric
Conflict persistence affects stability (positively / negatively)
Impact of instability and insecurity deteriorates governance and potential for recovery
BREAKING THE CYCLE OF CONFLICT AND RESUMING THE PATH OF
DEVELOPMENT
The World Bank’s Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction Team, SDV
SEQUENCE OF EFFECTS
SOME DEFINITIONS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION
PREVENTION
the “before” actions
Actions (programmes, projects) with the objective of anticipating and counteract the
negative consequence an event may have (avoidance of conflict)
It implies namely operational and organisation actions to build communication, trust and
mutual respect, training of potentially affected groups and population to promote consensus
building through mutual trust.
SOME DEFINITIONS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION (2)
MITIGATION
encompasses actions “before”, “during” and “after”
Actions (programmes, project) with the objective of counteracting (reducing the negative
impact) of an occurrence.
Includes allocation of resources to reinforce structures, redesign or alter existing elements
to reduce vulnerability in addition to training and organisation (including at the community
level)
Ownership of actions is fundamental to build trust
SOME DEFINITIONS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION (3)
VULNERABILITY
calculation made on the basis or exposure to the recurrence of conflict
Risk factors or exposure to danger of existing institutional framework such as:
Marginalisation,
Informality,
Pauperization,
Conditions of human settlements and localisation of productive activities (primary,
industrial, tertiary or services) and their linkage among them and with the environment.
SOME DEFINITIONS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION (4)
CONFLICT REDUCTION
encompasses actions “before”, “during” and “after”
Actions (programmes, project) with the objective of reducing vulnerability and exposure to
risk
Implies trust in functioning institutional arrangements and community involvement
Difficulty in setting limits of outside intervention vs. local “sovereignty” or “ownership”
SOME DEFINITIONS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION (5)
RISK MANAGEMENT
(actions to be carried out “before” with consequences “during” and “after”)
Pro-active strategy (in contrast to re-active response) to reduce vulnerability and counteract
risk factors
Its objective is conflict reduction
Is not a sector action but a global set of actions encompassing all sectors, beginning with
sound environmental management
Is not a conservation policy per-se but requires sustainability criteria both in terms of
natural resources and human intervention.
SOME DEFINITIONS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION (6)
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
actions to be carried “during” and the immediate (short-term) “after”
The response strategy (re-active strategy) to, after the occurrence of a disaster, intends to
counteract its more immediate negative impact and prevent more severe effects in the short
term.
Includes emergency actions (search and rescue, immediate assistance, shelter, sanitary and
health campaigns, rehabilitation of lifelines, assessment of emergency needs and first
appraisal of reconstruction requirements).
Proposed courses of action
Comparison of post-disaster and post conflict analysis / interventions
Comparison of post-disaster and post conflict analysis / interventions (2)
Comparison of post-disaster and post conflict analysis / interventions (3)