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OVERVIEW

The concept of resilience refers to:

  • The ability of states, societies, communities and individuals to adapt to political, economic, environmental, demographic or societal pressures, while maintaining progress towards national development goals,
  • The capacity of a state to build, sustain or restore its core functions and ensure basic social and political cohesion in the face of significant challenges,
  • The ability of societies, communities and individuals to manage risks and opportunities in a peaceful and stable manner.

What is it?

A flexible tool designed to inform decision-making and guide the development of interventions across humanitarian, development and political domains. In practice, it supports the integration of resilience, ensuring that EU interventions adopt a forward-looking, risk-informed approach focused on strengthening the capacities to cope with shocks and pressures at all stages. Using a four-steps approach, the tool facilitates an analytical process that generates a shared, in-depth understanding of how shocks, pressures and

What can it be used for?

This tool supports EU services in applying a resilience-based approach across all work areas. It aims to promote coherence, coordination, and consensus on required interventions to strengthen resilience. It builds a shared understanding of risks and vulnerabilities, particularly in crisis-affected settings.
The tool can be used to inform the programming cycle, country strategies, design phases, mid-term reviews, and dialogue or engagement with governments and other relevant partners, including non-state actors. Its primary objectives are to:

  • Identify key shocks and pressures—as well as their root causes—that hinder the achievement of sustainable development and peace-related goals,
  • Analyse the capacities required for target groups or systems to withstand, adapt to, and recover quickly from the identified shocks and pressures,
  • Define strategic and actionable interventions (a roadmap) to strengthen resilience in the given context, ensuring that all measures are both gender- and conflict-sensitive.

A resilience analysis can be conducted in both conflict-affected and non-conflict settings. However, in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, it is not a substitute for conflict analysis. Instead, the two tools are complementary, with each capable of informing and enriching the other. Moreover, a resilience analysis may reveal the need for a conflict analysis in order to gain a deeper understanding of the context and to guide more effective and context-sensitive interventions.

When can it be used?

Ideally, the resilience analysis tool should be used at the beginning of the Multi annual programming and/or the design phase to shape political and policy dialogue and to formulate the EU interventions. However, resilience being a dynamic concept, the tool can be used at different phases of the programming and project cycle to meet its various objectives or to reflect contextual changes.

Who can use it?

Any EU services either at Headquarters, in Delegation or both.

What are its strengths?

  • The in-depth comprehensive and shared analysis that can open space for dialogue and coherence.
  • The modular structure allows for a great degree of flexibility to adjust the analysis to the specific purposes, needs and resources available for conducting it.


What are its limitations?

  • The full process (i.e. 4 steps) can be time and resource intensive.
  • Insufficient access to reliable data or difficulties accessing certain areas may compromise the quality of the analysis.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Key elements

The tool follows a modular structure comprising four key steps:

  • Step 1: Planning and design of the analysis
  • Step 2: Conducting a preliminary analysis, which combines a desk review with the collection of primary data
  • Step 3: Facilitating a workshop to identify priority areas for support
  • Step 4: Developing a Resilience Roadmap

Output: A comprehensive report presenting detailed findings and recommendations for programming, alongside the development of a Resilience Roadmap that outlines strategic and actionable interventions aimed at strengthening resilience.

Requirements

N/A
Data/information

The tool relies on a broad mix of data and information gathered from a literature review (of EU internal documents, International Organisation, government and non-governmental/international non-governmental organisation reports and assessments, academic studies, etc.) as well as primary data collection from among key national and local stakeholders.

Time

The duration depends on the objective, scope and context. Typically, a resilience analysis may range from a few weeks to several months, depending on access constraints, partner capacities and available resources.
The time frame is closely linked to the objective, scope and context of the analysis. A resilience analysis is a flexible tool that can be a full-blown integrated approach with broader participation from relevant stakeholders or a lighter approach that does not necessarily take on all four steps and/or can be tailored for a specific group or objective. In a crisis setting, the duration may take longer due to difficulties in accessing specific areas and stakeholders, capacity weaknesses of partner institutions and lack or diminished availability of resources.

Skills

The analysis will be normally performed by EU staff from all services at HQ or EUD levels with various degrees of thematic and geographical knowledge. Several relevant external actors can be associated and actively involved for more full-blown analyses organisations. External experts and consultants may have added value and provide support throughout the process or during specific steps. INTPA can provide overall guidance to the process.

Facilities and materials


The tool does not require an extensive engagement of facilities as steps 1,2 and 4 can be undertaken in-house. Step 3 – the workshop – will require the rent of a facility for 2 days. The required materials are mostly the formats, templates, and additional tools. These consist of sample Terms of Reference (ToR) for the planning and design of the analysis and of the final report, formats for the compilation and analysis of data and information, and format for the development of the resilience roadmap.

Financial costs and sources

 
Costs may vary depending on the context and scope of the analysis. Budget considerations should include costs for hiring a consultant (or consultants), for staff time to be used to develop and validate the report, for the workshop, and for any potential travel.

Tips and tricks


Tip/Trick

Description

Applicable Across All Contexts – Including Crises

The analysis can be conducted in stable, fragile, or crisis-affected settings. Crisis contexts can provide opportunities for systemic change and resilience-building.

Foster Ownership and Buy-in

Actively involve participants and end-users to promote local ownership, ensure relevance, and enhance commitment to using the results.

Engage Multi-Sectoral Expertise

Include diverse actors (EU staff, government, partners, external experts) to support cross-sectoral analysis and ensure a broad, inclusive discussion.

Assess Comparative Advantages and Multiplier Effects

Identify interventions with cross-sectoral benefits and those that leverage unique capacities of stakeholders for greater impact.

Strategic Timing Matters

Conduct the analysis at moments when stakeholders are more receptive—such as post-crisis recovery phases or during programming design cycles.

Explore Opportunities for Funding Leverage

Highlight potential for attracting new or additional funding, especially when government counterparts are involved and resilience is a strategic priority.


EU RESOURCES


Capacity4dev.  Results Chain and Indicators on Resilience, Conflict Sensitivity and Peace, 2020.
INTPA Academy: EU Conflict Sensitivity Course.




For further information, any revision or comment, please contact INTPA-ICM-GUIDE@ec.europa.eu
Published by INTPA.D.4 - Quality and results, evaluation, knowledge management. Last update  May 2025