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​​​​​​Governance in fragile contexts

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What does ‘out of fragility’ and ‘conflict-sensitivity’ mean for programming in Democratization, Decentralization and Local Governance?

 

Together with the CHR network, DDLG takes up this question in its 2017 Learning Journey on ‘Governance in fragile contexts’. The overall aim is to capitalize on experience from DDLG programs in fragile contexts through collaborative learning and knowledge sharing, to establish shared understanding on possible approaches and guidance on the planning, implementing and monitoring of DDLG programs in fragile contexts.

On this shareweb site you find:

  • Documents on the learning journey
  • Documents on the topic of governance in fragile contexts
  • (Guidance) Documents of SDC (see the background document list here below)

Six country offices serve as more in-depth case-studies in the learning journey: Afghanistan, Burundi, Egypt, Honduras, Mali, and Ukraine. We have established closed user groups for all the works on these case studies. The Institute for Development Studies IDS supports and accompanies the learning journey. Interested? Please have a look at the site or contact us: andrea.iff@eda.admin.ch




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Created on our learning journey

 Documents

  • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/gouvernance in fragile contexts.jpg

    Governance in fragile contexts_SDC Working Paper

    Fragility, conflict, and violence are crucial challenges that threaten development achievements. Conflict and violence adversely affect the lives of millions of people and drive most of the humanitarian needs worldwide.

    Key Reading Document
    SDC
    2020
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 Background documents

  • Academic papers
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/SiteAssets/Document_Type_images/Deza_Link.svg

      Power calculations and political decentralisation in African post-conflict states

      In this scientific article two researchers look into the question of how local elections might be utilized during decentralization reforms.

      Key Reading Document
      IPSA
      2015
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/WOTRO_Report_The_Experience_of_Local_Administrative_Councils_in_Oppositionheld_Syria.jpg

      Perceptions of Governance - The Experience of Local Administrative Councils in Opposition-held Syria

      This report provides new insights into Local Administrative Councils (LACs) in five case study areas in opposition-held Syria. It explores their evolution, practices and influence and the way that they are perceived amongst citizens in the communities in which they exist.

      Key Reading Document
      Swisspeace
      2016
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Documents/Position-paper-on-Aid.jpg

      Position Paper: Aid, Governance and Fragility

      This position paper disaggregates interventions in economic governance and public sector management and highlights three key areas in which major work remains to be done: taxation, regulation, and public sector management. It then focuses on key issues of political governance and fragility: democracy assistance, human rights, the rule of law, and fragility.

      Key Reading Document
      ReCom, UNU Wider
      2014
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/fragilityatlocallevelworkingpapernovember2009.jpg

      Fragility at the local level: Challenges to building local state citizens relations in fragile settings

      This paper is an introduction to available literature on local democratic governance in fragile settings with an emphasis on contexts marked by protracted violent conflict.

      Key Reading Document
      IDS
      2009
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/forging-jubaland.jpg

      Forging Jubaland: Community Perspectives on federalism, governance and reconciliation

      One of the first research studies departing from the people’s vision and understanding of what ‘the state’ means to them: The report is an attempt to re-focus attention onto Somali citizens and elevate their governance and reconciliation needs within the current political and statebuilding processes. The reports adds renewed urgency to the issue of political reconciliation and the resultant accommodation of various political stakeholders into a new regional government.

      Key Reading Document
      Saferworld
      2016
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/BP21-Complexities_of_service_delivery_and_state-building.jpg

      Complexities of service delivery and state-building

      This briefing paper summarises findings from the publications of SLRC South Sudan over the life of the programme. It has been working since 2012 to identify and understand the realities of livelihoods, access to basic services, and perceptions of governance in post-independence South Sudan.

      Key Reading Document
      Secure Livelihoods Research Consortium
      2016
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/2e81146a49414991579d841ab4a44532.jpg

      Fixing fragile states: a country-based Framework

      The new Country Fragility Assessment Framework, which systematically examines the societal and institutional sources of fragility, can help decision-makers make more precise diagnoses and better target interventions. It builds on the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, but offers a more comprehensive framework to assess the forces that can drive a society together or apart. It does this by analysing 12 societal and institutional sources of fragility.

      Key Reading Document
      NOREF
      2016
  • Guidelines for SDC media assistance
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/fragile states.png

      Fragile states: The role of media and communication

      The briefing is designed principally for policymakers working to support development in fragile states. It draws on and summarises some of the conclusions drawn from earlier policy briefings published by BBC Media Action on the role of the media and communication in four fragile states – Afghanistan, Iraq, Kenya and Somalia.

      Key Reading Document
      BBC
      2013
  • Policy documents / research of other donors
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/SiteAssets/Document_Type_images/Deza_PDF.png

      Governance Interventions in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Countries

      The paper reviews an emerging body of literature on the design and evaluation of governance interventions recently implemented or ongoing in countries with ongoing violent conflict, recovering from conflict or at serious risk of conflict.

      Key Reading Document
      IDS, SDC
      2017
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/SiteAssets/Document_Type_images/Deza_Powerpoint.png

      Governance interventions in fragile and conflict-affected countries

      Powerpoint on Governance interventions in fragile and conflict-affected countries

      Key Reading Document
      SDC
      2017
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/Democracy-and-Political-Party-Assistance-in-Post-Conflict-Societies.jpg

      Democracy and Political Party Assistance in Post-Conflict Societies

      This NIMD publication provides a brief overview of the lessons learned in the field of democracy assistance in post-conflict societies in general and of political party assistance in particular. With this paper, NIMD aims to contribute to the debate and to present some practical guidelines for engagement in post-conflict situations.

      Key Reading Document
      NIMD
      2006
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/power-fragility-fragile-context-291112-en.jpg

      Power and Fragility: Governance Programming in Fragile Contexts: A Programme Resource

      This guide draws on power and political economy analysis, and other research, undertaken in Rwanda, Myanmar, Yemen and Angola. The guide is written for Oxfam Country Directors and Programme Managers and aims to provide practical support in the design and management of governance programmes.

      Key Reading Document
      Oxfam
      2012
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/DP-135-Civil-Society-International-Engagement-Fragile-States-2012.jpg

      Strengthening civil society? Reflections on international engagement in fragile states

      Reflections on international engagement in fragile states

      Key Reading Document
      ECDPM
      2012
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/ml-governance-fragility-effective-programming-031213-en.jpg

      Governance and Fragility: what we know about effective governance programming in fragile contexts

      This booklet reflects the experience of the Within and Without the State (WWS) programme, and offers key learning for those working in the area of governance programming in fragile contexts. It outlines a variety of approaches to governance programming in the WWS focus countries of Afghanistan, Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel, South Sudan, and Yemen. It shows that effective governance work IS possible in fragile contexts – and that it can achieve change.

      Key Reading Document
      Oxfam
      2013
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/UNDP_CG_RestoreorReform_2014v2.jpg

      Restore or Reform – UN Support to Core Government Functions in the Aftermath of Conflict

      The objectives of this report are to capture United Nations system experiences in addressing public administration capacity development during the early years in post-conflict environments and to provide recommendations that can help the United Nations system provide effective, cohesive, integrated and strategic support to improve the capacities of post-conflict public administration at the national and subnational levels.

      Key Reading Document
      UNDP
      2014
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/local_government_associations_fragile_states_print_version.compressed.jpg

      Local government associations in fragile states

      VNG International’s presents its approach in this report in to supporting LGAs (Local Government Associations) in various stages of the fragility circle, differentiating between the basic conditions that need to be established to ensure LGAs’ operational sustainability and credibility, and the targeted support to LGAs to enable them to exercise their role vis-à-vis other government layers and the international community. .

      Key Reading Document
      Local Government Capacity Programme
      2016
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/gn_5_-core_governance_functions_-_gf_diagnostic_redactandrevised_1august2016_draft.jpg

      (Re)Building Core Government Functions in the Immediate Aftermath of Conflict

      The purpose of this document is to provide governments and donor partners with an overview of key issues for assessing and supporting core government functions in the immediate post-conflict period. The framework covers the following areas: context, including capacity, politics and security; executive coordination at the centre of government; public finance, covering revenue and public expenditure management; government employment and public administration; security sector; local governance; and aid management, financing and donor relations.

      Key Reading Document
      United Nations, World Bank
      2016
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/DP__20.2016.jpg

      The Promotion of Decentralisation and Local Governance in Fragile Contexts

      This paper provides a systematic – and systematising – overview of the challenges surrounding the promotion of decentralisation and local governance in contexts of fragile statehood. Based on a review of the available literature and on a series of interviews with development cooperation practitioners, the paper discusses the risks and opportunities and develops suggestions on how development cooperation can better rise to the challenges.

      Key Reading Document
      Local Governance Capacity Programme
      2015
    • https://www.shareweb.ch/site/DDLGN/Thumbnails/Guide_Local_Governance_in_Fragile_and_Conflict_Settings.jpg

      Local governance in fragile and conflict-affected settings: Building a resilient foundation for peace and development

      The Guide is primarily meant to support UNDP Country Offices in countries considered as fragile or already affected by high levels of violence, instability and/or conflict (including post-conflict countries). The Guide can help these Country Offices define strategies, umbrella programmes and projects that more effectively help realize the potential of local governance for peace and recovery.

      Key Reading Document
      UNDP
      2016
  • SDC/FDFA documents
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