Written evidence submitted by the BOND
Conflict Policy Group
The BOND Conflict Policy Group is made up of
BOND members who have interest, experience and expertise working
in conflict-affected countries. It is from this perspective that
we write this letter, which should be seen as complementing members'
individual submissions to the International Development Committee's
inquiry into DFID's July 2009 White Paper, Eliminating
World Poverty: Building Our Common Future.
From the perspective of addressing violent conflict,
there is a great deal to celebrate in DFID's White Paper.
As well as highlighting the need for the UK
to pay greater attention to "conflict-affected and fragile
states", the paper also recognises that the way the UK approaches
development in these countries must itself be appropriate to the
challenges they face.
And so it recognises that building responsive
and accountable states is fundamental. It places a welcome emphasis
on promoting fair and effective security and justice provision,
supporting adaptation to climate change, targeting development
assistance at the root causes of conflict and supporting peace
processes.
The White Paper is also candid about some of
the shortcomings of previous approaches to development in conflict
and commits the UK to using more political analysis, incorporating
peace and security considerations in its development partnerships,
ensuring a joined up approach across Whitehall and leading reform
of the international system.
All this is right for supporting countries to
move permanently away from violence and towards broader, sustainable
development. But the White Paper fails to recognise the full implications
of its own policy direction.
The challenge for DFID—and indeed the
rest of HMG—will now be how it puts into practice this fundamentally
new approach to conflict-affected and fragile states. It will
mean, for instance, finding new ways to train, support and encourage
DFID staff to work "politically", on issues that some
may not have expertise or experience in, and in contexts with
high levels of risk for personnel and their projects, and the
UK's reputation and relationships.
Achieving lasting change will require the UK
to support the development of societal norms and values suitable
to each country context and set appropriate political change goals.
And so it will need to evaluate impact over a timeframe measured
in decades and across domestic political cycles, not only discrete
project goals or other short-term impact assessments.
The White Paper also emphasises the importance
of accountability and state-citizen relations in promoting a holistic
approach to state-building. We welcome this perspective, but it
raises challenges in light of recent trends in DFID's aid spending,
which has shifted towards increased use of direct budgetary support
and a focus on building central government institutions. Neither
is the coherence between UK decisions to pursue direct budgetary
support and respect of conflict sensitivity, human rights or good
governance norms always clear.
And while enhanced policy coherence across Whitehall
is desirable, it is not in of itself a policy goal: peace, security
and development priorities in recipient countries should be seen
as an essential component of, rather than a supplement to, the
UK's other foreign policy interests.
It will also be important to ensure that this
more effective way of delivering long-term development assistance
does not prevent the delivery of impartial and independent immediate
assistance to meet humanitarian need arising from conflicts or
natural disasters.
In summary, the approach to conflict-affected
and fragile countries outlined by DFID's White Paper is a welcome
move in the right direction. But lying behind many of the commitments
is a wealth of complexity that we urge the committee to draw out
and examine in detail.
The members of the BOND Conflict Policy Group
look forward to the IDC's inquiry and would be happy to further
clarify any of the issues raised in this letter.
Howard Mollet
Humanitarian Policy Advisor, CARE International UK;
current Chair of BOND Conflict Policy Group
Robert Parker
Head of Policy and Advocacy, Saferworld
Dan Smith
Secretary General, International Alert
Ruchi Tripathi
Head of Policy and Campaigns, Concern Worldwide UK
| 
