January 2004

Dear Reader:

This Resource Pack on Conflict Sensitive Approaches is the product of a two-year process by a consortium of partner organisations.The goal was to identify, synthesise, complement and enable conflict sensitive practice in the fields of development, humanitarian assistance and peacebuilding. This was undertaken primarily in Kenya, Uganda and Sri Lanka but also at the global policy level. The focus of the initiative was donors, governments, INGOs and local civil society organisations. It has been, and continues to be, an ambitious and challenging initiative with many different dimensions. We have learnt a great deal, but in an emerging and dynamic field there is always much more for us all to learn and to improve.

It has been a challenge to try and capture the richness and diversity of approaches and opinions on conflict sensitive practice in various geographical and institutional contexts and to present them in an accessible and succinct format. We believe that this Resource Pack makes a useful and relevant contribution to better practice. We welcome feedback on what is helpful in the Pack as well as what requires change or further elaboration. Working for better practice by its very nature is always work in progress, with no room for complacency. On-going and robust dialogue between practitioners and policy-makers from different agencies, experiences, contexts and sectors is vital to ensure that development, humanitarian and peacebuilding initiatives make a genuine improvement in people’s lives.

This initiative builds on the work of many pioneers and committed individuals. Some are well known for their contributions to thinking in the field while others are among those who work quietly and consistently in difficult contexts with many constraints. These people guided and informed our work and the direction of the initiative, and we are extremely grateful for their commitment. We are also grateful to our various donors (listed in the introduction to the Resource Pack) for their engagement and support during the evolution of this initiative.

All the organisations involved in managing this initiative were inspired by the wealth of good practice and innovative responses that are being applied – often undocumented – as well as by the energy and openness with which people and agencies talked about their experiences and on-going challenges. The desire for improved operational guidance and to share knowledge, methods, approaches and tools amongst practitioners was encouraging. This has enabled mutual capacity building, reflection, research and learning in the pursuit of better practice.

This Resource Pack marks the beginning of a process, rather than the end. It is a contribution to an emerging field. It is also a snapshot in time; the field is developing extremely rapidly. Some elements of the Pack describe or synthesise current experience with particular issues in the field. Other components simply identify gaps in knowledge or understanding that the field has yet to address.

We will continue to research new, emerging areas and new geographic contexts, and will discuss and share our findings with you. Ultimately it will be up to practitioners and communities themselves to judge the utility and impact of this venture.

Yours,