Download 2 - agrilife

Area Based Development in the
SEE and CIS
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27 ABD programmes supported by UNDP
48% conflict-related
30% poverty related
Components:
Basic infrastructure & services – 100%
 Local economic development – 74%
 Community empowerment – 67%
 Public administration reform – 63%
 Social development & assistance – 44%
 Conflict prevention & tolerance – 41%
 Policy & institutional reform – 33%
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70% have 4 or more components (integrated)
A typical ABD in the SEE- CIS
Legitimacy
Equalization Fairness and Equity
Existing spending Commitments
Adequacy, Stability and Predictability of LG Revenues
Local Governance
“Equip municipalities with the administrative capacity to perform their functions efficiently”
“Fostering employment opportunities”
Infrastructure
Economic Development
Basu, 1999)
Gender Equity & Mainstreaming
“Empowering women and marginalized people!”
Civil Society and Citizen Participation
“Mobilization!”
Business
Development
Environment &
Forestry
“Poverty is rather not
technical nor
economic but a
social and political
problem.” (Kanshik
Agriculture
“Seeking economic growth.”
Finance
Energy
Water & Sanitation
Health & Education
Road & Housing
“Seeking capital accumulation.”
Causes of conflicts
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The “tyranny of the single cause” has been
rejected
Conflict is multi-dimensional, multi-level and
multi-stakeholder
Main factors of conflict:
 Structural
 Political
 Economic/social
 Cultural/perceptual
 Environmental
Conflict characteristics/conditions
Structural factors
Political and
governance
factors
Economic and
social factors
Environmental
factors
Cultural and
perceptual factors
Role of neighbouring
states/inter-state
security concerns:
-location in conflictprone
neighbourhoods
-undemocratic
regions
Ethnic geography:
-high ethno-linguistic/
religious diversity
-one dominant ethnic
group
History of conflict
Mountainous country/
rough terrain
Size of the population
Strength of the
military
Weak state:
-undermined political
authority
-inability to exercise
control and provide
services
Exclusionary national
ideologies
Identity, inter-group
and elite politics
Discriminatory
political institutions:
-participation in
government
-participation in army,
policy and justice
Macro-economic
problems
Slow growth
Unequal income
distribution
High unemployment
Existence of Diaspora
Failure of social
contract
Horizontal economic
inequalities:
-access to land,
capital, government
infrastructure, aid
-access to income
and employment
Horizontal social
inequalities:
-access to (social)
services such as
education, health
services, safe water,
housing
Natural resource
endowment
Scarcities of resources:
-land, forest, water,
energy, minerals, sea
passage, fishing
grounds
Environmental
degradation:
-pollution,
deforestation, land
degradation
Environmental
externalities:
-upstream river
pollution
-trans-boundary air
pollution
-illegal trade of waste
Patterns of cultural
discrimination:
-legal and political
constraints on use
and teaching of
minority language
and related
inequitable
educational
opportunities
-religious freedom
Problematic group
histories and
incendiary
perceptions
Nature & factors of conflict in ECIS
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Globally No. of internal conflicts 3 times more than
interstate wars (1950s - early 1990s)
In ECIS 32 armed conflicts between 1955 and 2004
(23 took place after 1990 and 11 in the WBs - most
were local)
Factors of conflict in ECIS
 Arbitrary drawing of borders
 Federal states favoring an ethnic group
 Use of ethnic identity for political mobilization
 Triple transition: democratization, marketization
& nation-state building leading to the creation of
weak states with many conflict characteristics
ABD and conflict literature
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ABD is well positioned to respond to the multidimensional nature of conflict
Its integrated character, its flexibility and longterm approach allow for addressing a whole
range of issues in a holistic and effective way
ABD is particularly suited to do so at the subnational level
It may only be partially suited to deal with
structural, national and cross-border factors of
conflict (further discussed below)
Key achievements of ABD
programs in the region
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Governance & political representation
Economic development
Improvement in public services
Reduction in inequalities
The how is more important than the what:
– Inclusiveness, non-discrimination, participation,
transparency & accountability
Single multi-donor programme was an example of
donor coordination
Project presence catalyzed other initiatives (ensured
continued focus on the regions)
Limitations of ABD
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Internal contradictions in ABD
Necessity to make tradeoffs the nature and
depth of which depends on the context
– Integration vs. lack of integration (missing
macro picture)
– Local focus vs. lack of focus
– Broad partnerships/regional focus vs.
context-specific approach
– Donor support vs. dependency
Integration vs. lack of integration
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Integration potential under-utilized
Supra-national/national levels missing
Concentration on an area for reasons of
manageability detracts attention from the
broader context
Intervention often seen as a self-standing
endeavor
Even at local level key conflict characteristics
only partially addressed i.e. local economic
development
Local focus vs. lack of focus
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Local perspective is a factor of success
Inappropriately applied integrated approach
Attempt to deal with a broad range of issues
superficially without a coherent strategy in
mind to address key problems
Visibility trap: concentration on most visible
and easy-to-implement activities
Need for a balance between visible actions
and actions that contribute to systemic change
Regional vs. specific context focus
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ABD a good platform for broad partnership
and coordination among several donors, local
authorities, NGOs, the private sector and
central government
But the broad partnership is difficult to manage
and there are several examples of poor
coordination
The regional approach is commendable but it
should maintain the local perspective (conflict
and development characteristics differ among
municipalities)
Donor support vs. dependency, I
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Donor support necessary and beneficial but
can lead to dependency on external support
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Lack of a well thought-out strategic operational
framework linked to national policy processes
such as PAR & decentralization
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An abrupt withdrawal of donors can contribute
to escalation of conflict
Donor support vs. dependency, II
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Donor involvement can reduce government
commitment in the region, reduce the urgency
of systemic change and substitute for
inefficient government policies and insufficient
budget support
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Perception of preferential treatment of certain
areas
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Tendency to implement short-term
interventions when long-term engagement is
required
Conclusions
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ABD is effective in addressing social,
economic and governance related factors at
local & regional levels
But the typical design of ABD does not include
structural, national and cross-border factors of
conflict
ABD therefore does not capture the conflict
characteristics in their full complexity
ABD has the potential to more effectively
address conflict and contribute to sustainable
peace & development by striking a better
balance between inclusiveness and
manageability
Recommendations, I
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ABD must move towards an even more
integrated and multi-level approach
Interventions should be identified through
developmental and conflict analysis and take
place within a well coordinated strategic and
operational framework
1. At local/regional level, the approach should be
more integrative & respond to as many conflict
factors as possible
2. National level factors should be also integrated to
the extent possible
3. Cross-border or national factors which cannot be
included in the initiative should be understood and
taken into consideration as context characteristics
at design stage
Recommendations, II
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In order not to undermine manageability some
of the conflict factors can be addressed
through parallel but well coordinated activities
Some complex and politically sensitive crossborder and national level issues should be
addressed through advocacy and policy
advice
The recommended approach will require a
much broader partnership supporting ONE
strategy led by the legitimate political
authorities and linking all activities and
partners