Acknowledgements
In November 2005 we announced our inquiry on conflict
and development. The aim of the inquiry was to examine the effectiveness
and external coherence of the UK's peacebuilding and post-conflict
reconstruction policies with a particular focus on conflict in
Africa. We received written submissions from thirty one persons
and organisations including non-governmental organisations, research
institutes, academics and the UK Government. We subsequently held
seven evidence sessions in Parliament over a period of six months.
We are grateful to all those who submitted written evidence. We
would especially like to thank those who gave up their time to
come and give oral evidence in Parliament.
We would also like to thank our specialist adviser,
David Keen, Reader in Complex Emergencies at the Development Studies
Institute, LSE. However the views expressed in this report are
ours alone.
An important part of our evidence came from our visits
to Sierra Leone and Uganda in February, and to the Democratic
Republic of the Congo in May. We are grateful to our DFID and
FCO hosts on these visits for their excellent organisation. We
would also like to thank those organisations and individuals in
these countries who took the time to meet with us.
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