Over the last decade there has been a growing realisation that humanitarian assistance sometimes feeds conflict rather than alleviates it, and that development aid sometimes exacerbates tensions. This has led to the development of tools to understand the relationship between programming and conflict.

This Resource Pack seeks to document current practice, available frameworks and lessons learned. At its heart is the concept of “conflict sensitivity” – the notion of systematically taking into account both the positive and negative impact of interventions, in terms of conflict or peace dynamics, on the contexts in which they are undertaken, and, conversely, the impact of these contexts on the interventions (see Chapter 1 for definitions).

The first edition of the Resource Pack is the result of extensive consultations on conflict sensitivity undertaken in Kenya, Uganda and Sri Lanka by a consortium of Southern and Northern NGOs, during 2002-2003. Input has been received in the form of:

• extensive mapping of conflict sensitive practice in these three countries among development, humanitarian and peace building actors
• discussions with representatives from government, civil society and donors both on the proposed structure and content of the Resource Pack
• further feedback on various drafts of the Pack.

Similar processes were undertaken beyond these three countries with the headquarters of development, humanitarian and peacebuilding organisations, and experts in the field of conflict prevention.

The project has made great efforts to reach out and raise awareness on conflict sensitivity, as well as to record indigenous and international practice. Through this work and the partnerships it has engendered, the project has provided a bridge between North and South, involving southern agencies not as mere recipients of conflict sensitive knowledge, but as shapers of the conflict sensitivity agenda.

The partner organisations are grateful for the feedback they have received, and invite further comments on the current edition. A subsequent edition is envisaged incorporating lessons learned and further applications of conflict-sensitive approaches. Additional resources such as a trainers guide to supplement this Resource Pack will also be produced. More information on the project progress and activities in Kenya, Uganda and Sri Lanka can be found at: www.conflictsensitivity.org.