Conflict analysis is the systematic study of the profile, causes, actors, and dynamics of conflict (see Section 2). It helps development, humanitarian and peacebuilding organisations to gain a better understanding of the context in which they work and their role in that context.

Conflict analysis can be carried out at various levels (eg local, regional, national, etc) and seeks to establish the linkages between these levels (see Fig 1). Identifying the appropriate focus for the conflict analysis is crucial: the issues and dynamics at the national level may be different from those at the grassroots. But while linking the level of conflict analysis (eg community, district, region or national) with the level of intervention (eg project, sector, policy), it is also important to establish systematic linkages with other interrelated levels of conflict dynamics. These linkages are important, as all of these different levels impact on each other.

For example, when operating at the project level, it is important to understand the context at the level at which the project is operating (eg local level), so the focus of the analysis should be at that level; but the analysis should also take account of the linkages with other levels (eg regional and national). And similarly when operating at the regional, sector or national levels.

As discussed in Chapter 1, conflict sensitivity is about:

• understanding the context in which you operate
• understanding the interaction between your intervention and the context
• acting upon the understanding of this interaction, in order to avoid negative impacts and maximise positive impacts.

Conflict analysis is thus a central component of conflict-sensitive practice, as it provides the foundation to inform conflict sensitive programming, in particular in terms of an understanding of the interaction between the intervention and the context. This applies to all forms of intervention – development, humanitarian, peacebuilding – and to all levels – project, programme, and sectoral.
In other words, conflict analysis will help:

• to define new interventions and to conflict-sensitise both new and pre-defined interventions (eg selection of areas of operation, beneficiaries, partners, staff, time frame). (Planning stage)
• to monitor the interaction between the context and the intervention and inform project set-up and day-to-day decision-making. (Implementation stage)
• to measure the interaction of the interventions and the conflict dynamics in which they are situated. (Monitoring and evaluation stage)