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OVERVIEW

What is it?

The Conflict Sensitivity Guidance Note 1 on conflict sensitivity in developement cooperation (2021),  updates and supplements the EU Staff Handbook on operating in Situations of conflict and fragility, (2015). It addresses concepts, policies and the European Union approach to situations of conflict and fragility. Ideally, it should be read in conjunction with the other guidance notes in this publication covering conflict sensitivity in the programme cycle; conflict prevention and peacebuilding; gender; democracy and human rights; working with national actors; working with international actors; economic development and employment; climate change, the environment and natural resources; sustainable agriculture, land issues and food security; COVID-19; education).

This Handbook should be used in strict correlation with the Guidance for conflict analysis.

What can it be used for?

This note aims to provide guidance on European Union (EU) policy frameworks related to resilience as well as conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and on EU commitments taking conflict sensitivity into account in the EU programme cycle. It begins by defining situations of conflict and fragility, and moves on to describe the current EU approach, concluding with a set of lessons learned from applying this approach.

When can it be used?

  • This set of Guidance Notes aims to support capacities for conflict sensitivity assessments in EU Delegations and Headquarters to follow up on specific recommendations stemming from conflict analyses and other conflict prevention tools, such as the EU conflict Early Warning System (EWS).

Who can use it?
  • Written by staff for staff, relevant to all EU services (INTPA, NEAR, FPI, EEAS, ECHO) at the Headquarters and Delegation levels.
  • Specifically for INTPA, the new Action Document (2018) templates and the INTPA companion have included conflict sensitivity and resilience mainstreaming as cross-cutting issues in the contet of quality assurance of development proposed programmes. It is therefore required to pay due attention and analysis to these dimensions when designing interventions and across the whole of the programming cycle.
What are its strengths?
  • Written directly by staff, the handbook addresses conflict and fragility not only from a theoretical point of view, but also from an operational perspective.
  • The variety of approaches adopted (case studies, interviews, briefings) to present different topics makes it a very engaging tool.
What are its limitations?
  • Because the EU's work in relation to conflict and fragility – as well as resilience and peacebuilding – is constantly expanding, the guide must be updated regularly.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Key elements

The guidances note consist in three parts and

  • Situations of conflict and fragility .

  • Current EU approach in situations of conflict and fragility

  • Key lessons learned from engagement in situations of conflict and fragility .

It contains 12 guidances notes and a glossary:

It has been recently complemented by two additional Guidance notes:

Requirements

Conflict sensitivity and resilience mainstreaming in development programming (see INTPA companion) and Action Document templates and Instructions.

Data/information. While different contexts may require different types of analysis, the Guidance note provides a good overview, representing over 80 staff from Headquarters (INTPA, ECHO, EEAS, FPI, NEAR, etc.) and 18 EU Delegations. Staff from other International organisations participated in the handbook's drafting.

Time. N/A

Skills. Providing flexible and quality support in situations of conflict and fragility requires a wide range of skills and thematic expertise. In this regard, the EU also provides training programmes (e.g. INTPA Context for Development, the Conflict Sensitivity and Fragility module; EU on-line courses on Conflict Sensitivity – DG INTPA; etc.)

Facilities and materials. A coordinated and integrated approach across EU actors in Headquarters and Delegations is essential — e.g. regarding processes linked to conflict analysis, resilience analysis, conflict-sensitivity assessments, recovery and peacebuilding assessments and EU conflict early warning system shared assessments.

Financial costs and sources. INTPA, NEAR, EEAS, FPI and EU Delegations might use their existing facilities for selecting and hiring experts with a combined thematic and geographic expertise (knowledge of conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity, country knowledge). INTPA Unit G5  – Fragility, Resilience and Peace can provide overall guidance in the process, in coordination with EEAS-ISP2, regarding conflict analysis, conflict-sensitivity assessments, resilience analysis and EU conflict Early Warning System assessments.

Tips and tricks

  • Conflict sensitivity is required in all fragile situations, not just those in crisis; and in all interventions, not just those focused on governance and security.
  • Conflict sensitivity may require greater adaptability, flexibility and preparedness, as well as continuous monitoring of crises, shocks and risks.
  • Risk (i.e. the possibility of harm and of unintended negative impacts) must be acknowledged, calculated and managed across the intervention cycle.

RESOURCES

Where to find it

The European Commission (EC), 2021.  Guidance notes on conflict sensitivity in development cooperation N°31.

The European Commission (EC), 2015. Operating in situations of conflict and fragility, an EU staff handbook 

These should be read in conjunction with the revised Guidance Note on the use of Conflict Analysis in support of EU External Action, 2020 - see below.

Complementary guides, methodologies and tools


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