Input 1: Policy Framework and Strategic Orientation of SDC in Dealing with Fragility
In the first input of the day, Markus Heiniger – Focal Point of SDC’s Conflict and Human Rights Network- covered the following issues:
- What fragility means and why it is relevant for SDC
- What the multilateral response mechanisms for dealing with fragility in the context of development cooperation are
- How working in fragile and conflict affected situations has changed and is changing how SDC works
He emphasised that the concepts of fragility and failed states should not be confused because they are very different. For SDC, being aware of the specific challenges of working in fragile and conflict affected situations is becoming increasingly important; as such situations are becoming more common where SDC works. Also, no low-income or conflict-affected country has yet achieved the Millennium Development Goals. There are different definitions of fragility and the OECD DAC definition with more details can be found in Markus’ presentation. In essence, limited state capacity to ensure state-society bargaining (i.e. developing mutually constructive and reinforcing relationships) leads to fragility in many countries. Fragility also refers to the lack of organisational, institutional and financial capacity of a government to carry out basic functions of protecting, providing services and in general governing it’s population.
The first key message of the input therefore was that there is a problem: fragility and conflict dimensions can be main obstacles to sustainable development. The second key message was that there is a growing recognition of this problem and solutions to address it are being developed, i.e. multilateral response mechanisms (New Deal) are being implemented and SDC is also designing tools to stay engaged in fragile situations. SDC has developed a working plan to address fragility in the period 2013-16, which stresses that Swiss country strategies must be based on a comprehensive context analysis and try to address the political and social dimensions of fragility. The third key message is that in any case conflict sensitive project management is a must for all development projects funded and implemented by SDC.
View the presentation below
[slideshare id=21221721&doc=pptcspmmarkusheiniger-130515163948-phpapp01]
Trouble viewing? Try fullscreen mode or download the PDF here: SDC & Fragility [PDF]
Audio Markus Heiniger
Input 2: Employment and Income and Systemic Market Development in Fragile Contexts
In the second input of the first day, Diana Johnson – Senior Advisor M4P and Fragility of The Springfield Centre – included the following issues:
- market system development as a (valid) framework to be utilised in fragile context
- the differences / challenges of working in a fragile context
- framework to link relief, recovery and development
Diane Johnson explained the concept of market system development and its interconnected systems. She emphasised that a market system development framework seeks to understand why the system surrounding the poor is not providing solutions and how the system could better serve the poor. It is critical that the framework clearly describes a program’s theory of change, i.e. that there are logical links between interventions, systemic change, outcomes and goal(s). The framework can be applied in all areas of e+i interventions (vocational training, financial service development and private sector development) and other income generating activities, but also in other sectors such as health, local governance, education or water. Over the last few years the application of the market system development framework in fragile context has emerged.
Diane Johnson focused on the principles of market system development and explained why this framework can be utilised in fragile contexts. A thorough analysis is critical to understand the systemic constraints (and not only symptoms) and to adapt the strategy to the context. She highlighted the importance to understand the power dynamics in the institutions and systems around governance, social, cultural and economic dimensions and to follow “do no harm” principles. She continued explaining why market systems development is a valid framework in fragile context and concluded with a summary of the key messages: (i) the context and its analysis is the starting point for every intervention; (ii) considering institutions, systems and power dynamics; (iii) there must be a focus on root causes and not only symptoms to ensure sustainably and large-scale impact; (iv) programme goal(s) have to be clarified and indicators of change identified; (v) importance that development actors take over a facilitation role to ensure sustainability and (vi) projects / programmes have to be flexible, dynamic and adaptable.
The presentation is available below.
[slideshare id=21104074&doc=marketsystemsdevelopmentinfragilecontexts13maydj-130513091346-phpapp01]
Trouble viewing? Try fullscreen mode or download the PDF here: Market Systems Development in Fragile Contexts [PDF]
Audio Diane Johnson
Radio F2F Bern_Take Homes of Participants
Le Principe « Ne pas Nuire » / « Do No Harm »
L’une des questions non encore résolue pour cette première journée est le cas où nous sommes incapables de respecter le principe « Do No Harm ». La question vient d’un cas concret de la Jordanie où accueillir et soutenir les réfugiés syrien impacte négativement sur la situation des autres citoyens.
En fait, les syriens, de par leur fragilité socioéconomique, acceptent des salaires bas, désirés par le secteur privé dans un contexte de crise économique. Cela impacte directement les jordaniens qui ne peuvent s’aligner aux salaires proposés et se voient vivre un chômage du au soutien des réfugier syriens.
Le soutien apporté aux syriens leur permet d’accepter des salaires plus bas que le normal, les jordaniens, non soutenus, supportent mal ces niveaux de salaires. Cette aide a nuis à leur situation socioéconomique.
Dans d’autres contextes, le soutien apporté aux jeunes nuirait au soutien et à la situation de la femme. La crise économique, les événements de protestation en Europe ou de révolution dans les pays Nord Africain, tous sont des facteurs ayant poussé les donateurs à soutenir la situation des jeunes. Les fonds étant limités certains programmes et soutiens dessinées pour les femmes ont été coupés pour être réallouer aux jeunes.
- Quelles sont les (autres) vraies causes de ces situations (Jordanian Case of Syrian refugees) ?
- Quelles sont les solutions à développer : Court / Moyen / Long Termes ?
- Quelles autres expériences où on ne pas appliquer le principe « Do No Harm » ?
- Arrêter ou Assumer ?
Bien à vous !!!!
– Youssef Bouallala, SDC Morocco
Tools for Working in Fragile Contexts: The Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation / swisspeace Three Steps Cycle
Thanks everyone for the rich day! It was a great pleasure to meet with all of you and to see how much engagement and knowledge you invest in your work! You are SDC’s asset!
At the end of the day some of you were asking for the operationalisation and the tools to work in fragile and conflict affected situations. I would like to share with you what Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and swisspeace developed: thethree steps cycle in order to ensure operationalisation of conflict sensitive program management helps to structure the thinking around the context (step 1), y
our operation in this context (step 2) and some options of how to deal with the challenges (step 3). You find a list of questions for step 2 to make the link between the context analysis and your own operation. The last step does not only indicate “how ” to work differently in this context but also it will guide you in the question of “what” to do in order to address peace- and statebuilding challenges based on your context analysis.
Download the relevant documents here:
The Swiss NGOs are already working with this cycle. Recently it was introduced to AfDB. The UN system is developing an online training course on this.
SDC will apply its upcoming “How to notes”. However, the cycle might also be a useful resource.
– Sidonia Gabriel, swisspeace
The key messages I learnt from Diane Johnson’s presentation are that employment and income and systemic market development in fragile contexts are the principles and tools to work in fragile contexts. Fragility varies strongly according the context, and different countries may have very different kinds of fragility. Therefore, doing good context analysisat the beginning of every project is a very important principle.
To do effective market system development, we have to understand power dimensions of the key players and the causes of the problems. Fundamental questions such as who does, who pays and why are they doing it, provide a guideline to identify who plays which role in this intervention, and help to identify stakeholder’s interests and power. Meanwhile, I was also reminded of the importance of differentiating between cause and symptom. We need to address on the causes not symptoms; therefore, working as facilitators, we clearly need to understand the root causes of the problems we try to address. One way to identify the causes is to bring key players together to the table so that information can be exchanged
Overall, the presentation strenghtened my interest to learn more about the market system development framework and M4P approach, why they are considered great tools to reach the poorest of the poor, and how markets can work for the poor. I look forward to participate in the M4P course organised by The Springfield Centre in order to understand both the theory and practical experiences of the system and tools in order to apply them to employment and income projects in my home country.
– Sonenaly Phetsiriseng, SDC Laos
