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Development policy proposals Addressing situations of fragility
Situations of fragility
Supporting partner countries' efforts to prevent fragility, to address its root causes and to tackle its consequences is an integral part of EU partnerships. More must be done to enable a comprehensive response to situations of fragility, ensuring synergies and good articulation between institutional, state and non-state actors (humanitarian, development, diplomacy, law enforcement, security, multilateral and other donors.
To make this approach more operational the Council invited the Commission to prepare an EU Implementation Plan in 2009.
This Implementation Plan is being prepared on the basis of the experience on the ground in a number of pilot countries. Burundi, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Timor Leste and Yemen have been chosen to this end. Together with other important stakeholders, Member States and the Commission are preparing action plans to achieve concrete improvements in 3 areas:
- political – the EU speaking with one voice,
- coherence between diplomatic, development, humanitarian, security activities,
- aid effectiveness, including implementation of the EU Code of conduct on complementarity and division of labour.
Conclusions of a thematic discussion on "Budget Support in situations of fragility", findings of a "Mapping of instruments and actors" as well of results achieved in the use of flexibility in the EC aid procedures in situations of crisis, will also feed into the preparatory process of this EU Implementation Plan.
Why is conflict prevention important for development?
- Development co-operation automatically affects conflict situations, either by exacerbating them or by reducing them. It is therefore essential that development co-operation tackles the root causes of conflict directly, thereby accentuating its ability to be used as a tool to reduce conflict.
- The reduction of poverty is the key goal of development co-operation. Poverty is often a prime source and outcome for conflict. Development and conflict prevention, through the reduction of poverty are thus intrinsically linked.
- The enormous cost in resources and in human suffering caused by violent conflicts calls for major efforts in preventing conflicts. This is above all a moral and political imperative, but it also makes economic sense. Preventing conflicts (especially violent ones) from erupting allows resources to be channelled to more worthwhile needs. It also ensures that gains made through development co-operation are not irreparably lost.
