Conflict sensitive approaches to development, humanitarian assistance and peace building

6 Choosing the right framework for conflict analysis

This section aims to provide guidance on selecting a conflict analysis tool from Annex 1, which best corresponds to the needs and capacities of specific organisations. At this point, it is important to note that the tools included in the Resource Pack were selected according to the following criteria:

sufficient documentation available to describe the tools adequately
each tool was used by at least one organisation
the tools cover both micro and macro-level conflict analysis
the tools represent a wide range of approaches to conflict analysis (especially in terms of targeted audiences and fields of interventions).

Although the project team has gone to some lengths to document the practice and experience of smaller, particularly Southern, organisations (especially in Kenya, Uganda and Sri Lanka), a brief glance at the list of tools reveals that most have been developed by Northern NGOs and donor agencies. Their perspective on conflict is therefore largely external, thus reflecting the current state of play in the area of formal conflict analysis. In the context of North / South relations, it may therefore be important to enhance cross-fertilisation and shared learning on conflict analysis and the development of conflict analysis tools.

The checklist poses a number of questions that can help organisations think about the type of conflict analysis tool they need. It is not comprehensive and will need to be further adapted to each organisation.

Checklist for selecting a conflict analysis tool
1. Purpose Does the tool provide the information you need for your work? Is the proposed process of conflict analysis consistent with your aims? 2. Assumptions Do you share the tool’s specific understanding of conflict? Does this perspective correspond to the mandate and values of your organisation? 3. Methodology Does the proposed methodology match the purpose of the analysis? Does the proposed methodology agree with the ways of working of your organisation? How long does it take to gain results? 4. Resource implications What are the resource implications of the selected tool (staff time, travel, seminar costs, facilities, data management)? Is your organisation able to allocate the required resources? 5. Availability Is the tool available at the time and cost that suit you? Can full documentation be accessed?

**Table 3: Summary of conflict analysis tools listed in Annex 1**
Purpose	Level	Potential users	Assumptions	Methodology	Resources
1. Strategic Conflict Assessment (SCA) - DFID - DEV*
Country/regional strategic planning, can also be applied to projects/ programmes	Regional, national, local	DFID and partner bilateral / multilateral agencies desk officers	Combine political and economic dimensions; greed/grievance; structures and actors	Combination of desk study and field consultations	Assessment team (5 people). Consultation meetings in-country
2. Benefits / harms handbook - CARE - DEV/HA
Analysis, impact assessment and project (re)design	Local – mainly project level	NGO project managers, field staff	Focus on rights-based approach	Desk-based and field research and possible workshop consultations	Varies – few hours in emergencies to more detailed workshops / consultations
3. Conflict Analysis Framework (CAF) - World Bank - DEV
Country strategic planning	National, can also be adapted to (sub) regional	Multilateral organisation desk staff / planners	Focus on socio-economic dimensions of conflict	Checklist; Desk studies, workshops, stakeholder consultations, consultants	Full CAF analysis resource intensive (workshops, consultations, consultants); but can be simplified
4. Conflict analysis and response definition - FEWER - PB
Early warning, country strategic planning	National, local	Diplomats, donor desk officers, NGOs	Focus on conflict dynamics	Ongoing analysis by local civil society organisations	Modest for desk study; more for training or workshops

Purpose	Level	Potential users	Assumptions	Methodology	Resources
5. EC Checklist for root causes of conflict - European Commission - DEV
Early warning, strategic and programme planning	National, regional	Multi- and bilateral donor desk officers, diplomatic actors	Focus on structural root causes of conflict	Checklist; external research capacity	Limited as mainly desk-based
6. Working with conflict: skills and strategies for action - Responding to conflict - PB
Conflict analysis, programme planning	Local, national	Local and INGO staff, field and headquarters	Focus on understanding conflicts	Collection of tools for participatory conflict analysis	Limited depending on format (workshop, consultation meetings etc)
7. Making Sense of Turbulent Contexts (MSTC): Analysis tools for humanitarian actors - World Vision - DEV / HA
Conflict analysis, project planning	National, regional	NGO emergency response, development and advocacy staff	Focus on chronic political instability, dovetails with Do No Harm	Collection of tools, flexible application	Variable, depending on use of tools, desk study or consultations
8. Do No Harm / Local capacities for peace project
Conflict analysis, project monitoring and impact assessment	Local	Donor, NGO (international and local) staff	Focus on dividers and connectors in conflict	Workshop, integration into standard procedures	Limited, for workshop
9. Conflict and Policy Assessment Framework (CPAF) - Clingendael Institute - DEV / F
Conflict analysis, country strategic planning	National, sectoral	Donor and embassy staff	Focus on indicators of internal conflict and state failure	External research capacity, workshops	Costs of preparing for and holding workshops, can include external consultant involvement
10. Early Warning and Preventive Measures - UN Staff College - ALL
Early warning, conflict analysis, design	National	UN staff (HQ and field), other donor agencies or NGOs	Focus on human security and human rights framework	Training/workshop setting	Training materials, facilitation, workshop / training costs
11. Conflict assessment framework - USAID - DEV
Conflict analysis, country and project planning	National	Donor desk officers, implementing partners, other US government officials	Broad scope, synthesis of other tools	Desk study, workshop, follow up integration into programming strategy	For desk study, in country visit and follow-up work.
12. Conflict analysis for project planning and implementation - GTZ - DEV
Conflict analysis, country and project planning	National, project	Donor, NGO desk officers, project managers	Broad scope, synthesis of other tools	Combination of desk study and empirical research, tools for participatory conflict analysis	Costs of organising workshops and consultation meetings

Purpose	Level	Potential users	Assumptions	Methodology	Resources
13. FAST methodology - Swiss Peace - DEV / FP
Early warning, risk assessments	National, can be sub-regional	Government ministries, development agencies, NGOs, international organisations	Event data analysis (quantitative and qualitative)	Field information collection, desk-based analysis	Resource intensive for maintaining local information networks and specialist analysis network
14. Conflict diagnostic handbook - CPR / CIDA - PB / DEV
Conflict and stakeholder assessment	Country, regional	Development practitioners	Devising evidence-based peacebuilding strategies	Mainly workshop setting analysis	Costs of organising and presenting workshop
15. Better Programming Initiative - IFRC - HA
Conflict assessment, training	Programme; local, national, regional	Red Cross/Red Crescent National Societies, delegation and other staff	Focus on aid fostering long-term reconciliation and recovery	Analysis and training	Depending on scope of assessment or length of training
*Field of activity DEV Development HA Humanitarian Assistance PB Peacebuilding FP Foreign Policy

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