Abstract
The ‘risk assessment’ in peacebuilding has become a standard, if sometimes slightly formulaic and performative, element of project design and written proposals. Largely driven by donor requirements and organisational procedures, the relatively new discipline and practice recognised as ‘Religious Peacebuilding’ has taken on many of the elements of ‘secular’ peacebuilding, including the risk assessment. This means that organisations increasingly have to attempt to understand the associated risks to projects with a religious dimension often without any specific guidelines, and in many cases, any relevant knowledge or previous experience of working with religious actors in peacebuilding. Consequently, the primary objective of this paper is to propose the first risk assessment framework for peacebuilding projects which explicitly focus on religious dimensions and actors. The framework is based on analysis of case studies and project evaluations from a number of contexts; and has the potential to make a tangible difference to the efficacy and impact of peacebuilding projects in a variety of post-conflict contexts. This paper will also briefly consider how the proposed framework relates to contemporary theoretical debates concerning the instrumentalization of religion, and increasing technocracy in peacebuilding theory and practice.
Highlights
The ‘risk assessment’ in peacebuilding projects has become a standard, if sometimes slightly formulaic and performative, element of project design and written proposals.1 If carried out by actors2 with good contextual knowledge and conflict assessment and peacebuilding experience, it can undoubtedly be helpful in identifying potential challenges and barriers to a project’s effectiveness early in the project planning phase; and should be central to informing subsequent conflict sensitivity indicators.3 Seen as a potential problem by some,4 the relatively new theoretical and practical areaSee for example: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/democratic-governance-and-peacebuilding/conflict-prevention-and-peacebuilding/conflict-analysis-and-risk-assessment.In peacebuilding the term ‘actors’ is often used to refer to any partyinvolved in the conflict or peacebuilding processes
Careful preparation, close monitoring, and preconceived strategies to mitigate the negative consequences of these factors have the potential to enhance the impact and efficacy of a peacebuilding project which has a religious dimension
The eight risk factors presented here are drawn from several specific conflict contexts, and whilst not claiming to be exhaustive, are an attempt to balance theoretical and contextual specificity with universally applicable peacebuilding considerations
Summary
The ‘risk assessment’ in peacebuilding projects has become a standard, if sometimes slightly formulaic and performative, element of project design and written proposals. If carried out by actors with good contextual knowledge and conflict assessment and peacebuilding experience, it can undoubtedly be helpful in identifying potential challenges and barriers to a project’s effectiveness early in the project planning phase; and should be central to informing subsequent conflict sensitivity indicators. Seen as a potential problem by some, the relatively new theoretical and practical areaSee for example: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/ourwork/democratic-governance-and-peacebuilding/conflict-prevention-and-peacebuilding/conflict-analysis-and-risk-assessment.In peacebuilding the term ‘actors’ is often used to refer to any party (individual, organisation, government, authority, etc.)involved in the conflict or peacebuilding processes. The ‘risk assessment’ in peacebuilding projects has become a standard, if sometimes slightly formulaic and performative, element of project design and written proposals.. If carried out by actors with good contextual knowledge and conflict assessment and peacebuilding experience, it can undoubtedly be helpful in identifying potential challenges and barriers to a project’s effectiveness early in the project planning phase; and should be central to informing subsequent conflict sensitivity indicators.. Seen as a potential problem by some, the relatively new theoretical and practical area. In peacebuilding the term ‘actors’ is often used to refer to any party (individual, organisation, government, authority, etc.). Involved in the conflict or peacebuilding processes. For a more definitive definition see: (Snodderly 2018). See for example: (Conflict Sensitivity Consortium 2012; International Alert and Saferworld 2004)
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