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Global Issues Seminar Series:Conflict and Development

• Introduction of participating sites – 10 minutes

• Conflict and development: what’s new; issues; challenges: Kaz Kuroda – 15 minutes;

• Question & Answers: 35 minutes;

• Comments: G. Pourchot – 10 minutes;

• Comments: Ioannis Stivachtis – 10 minutes;

• Questions & Answers – 40 mintues.

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Conflict and Development

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“I sometimes joke that it’s not a secret that my nomination was controversial.”  “That the Board agreed on it

unanimously was, I think, a very good sign. And quite seriously I think it’s a sign that development is a unifying

mission.”

Paul WolfowitzMessage to Bank Staff

June 1, 2004

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An Evolving Agenda

•World Bank founded in 1947 as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

•1990s: International environment is increasingly complex. 80% of the world’s 20 poorest countries suffered from major violent conflict in the past 15 years.

•1995: OP/BP 8.50 on Emergency Recovery Assistancefocus on restoring assets and production levels in the disrupted economy, rather than relief or consumption.

•World Bank intervention in post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina laid framework for what has become current operational policy on conflict and development.

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- Conflict is inherent in all societies

- Types, characteristics and economic implications• Almost all internal• Most in low-income countries,

particularly in Africa• Ripple effects global• Economic cost: $54 billion• Conflict sensitive development,

among others to minimize conflict risks

Conflict and Development: Overview

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Evolving conflict/development agenda

• Major UN peacekeeping/peace operations and post conflict reconstruction efforts in 1990’s and early 2000’s

• Improved harmonization among donors, the UN, the World Bank, civil society organizations, etc, in post conflict reconstruction

• Conflict prevention as a development issue: operational prevention and structural prevention.

“If war is the worst enemy of development, healthy and balanced development is the best form of conflict prevention.” Kofi Annan, UNSG, 1999.

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• Paul Collier’s research on the economics of civil war:

• Primary commodity exports increases risk of conflict by four routes: financing rebels, worsening corruption, increasing the incentive for secession, and increasing exposure to shocks.

• High rate of unemployed youth has a significant correlation with conflict onset

• Feasible actions could be taken to substantially reduce the global incidence of civil conflicts.

• Human security

• Sadako Ogata and Amartya Sen: Security of individuals ensuring that they are free from fear and from want. National security inadequate with its military focus on protecting territorial integrity.

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Issues, actions and challenges

• UN Peace-building Commission– 2005 World Summit established; now to get started

but how?

• Security and development– No peace /no conflict but general insecurity– Security sector reform

• Conflict sensitive development– Conflict analysis tool to better understand the roots

of conflict (i.e. systematically identifying key factors affecting conflict; providing analysis of each factor; highlighting priority problem areas and opportunities)

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Conflict agenda and World Bank

1. One quarter of member countries conflict affected (each requiring its own treatment; assisting in in-conflict areas) No longer conflict OR development

2. WB is a key player, in concert with other stakeholders in post conflict reconstruction

3. ‘Not business as usual’ business

4. WB is introducing new ways and tools to meet challenges

5. Addressing fragile states

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For more information,

please consult our website:

www.worldbank.org/conflictwww.worldbank.org/conflictor contact us at

cpr@worldbank.org