Comments on: How can INGOs improve their work in fragile and conflict states? http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921 duncan green poverty to power oxfam development Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:43:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Anna Meliksetyan http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921&cpage=1#comment-194478 Anna Meliksetyan Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:10:17 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921#comment-194478 I just came across your blog, after googling the words "International development blogs". Thank you for writing this blog, from a young woman attempting to hold on to her disappearing faith in today's world. On another note, editing the discourse of assistance to one of international cooperation, and involving youth as the agents of this transformation is one way that NGOs can improve their work in fragile and conflict spaces. I recently met 7 youth from Senegal and Medellin in Colombia, who use the situations in their communities and countries as the fuel for their drive and determination to help their communities. 4 of these youth were young women who make a strong effort to include the elders in their communities to get involved using the elders skills and knowledge, rather than making them feel outdated in their understanding of development. Here is an excellent example from Medellin, Colombia: http://ygtainternational.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/when-violence-strikes/ I just came across your blog, after googling the words “International development blogs”. Thank you for writing this blog, from a young woman attempting to hold on to her disappearing faith in today’s world.

On another note, editing the discourse of assistance to one of international cooperation, and involving youth as the agents of this transformation is one way that NGOs can improve their work in fragile and conflict spaces. I recently met 7 youth from Senegal and Medellin in Colombia, who use the situations in their communities and countries as the fuel for their drive and determination to help their communities. 4 of these youth were young women who make a strong effort to include the elders in their communities to get involved using the elders skills and knowledge, rather than making them feel outdated in their understanding of development.

Here is an excellent example from Medellin, Colombia: http://ygtainternational.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/when-violence-strikes/

]]> By: Duncan http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921&cpage=1#comment-192190 Duncan Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:55:13 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921#comment-192190 Fascinating Adan, thanks for commenting - why do you think religious institutions and clan elders are reluctant to get involved in design? What is their attitude to building state capacity? Fascinating Adan, thanks for commenting – why do you think religious institutions and clan elders are reluctant to get involved in design? What is their attitude to building state capacity?

]]> By: Adan Kabelo http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921&cpage=1#comment-192184 Adan Kabelo Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:30:18 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921#comment-192184 Interesting thought and acronym... I work in Somalia and recently had a short stint in South Sudan. In the former, the aid community is the government. With UN pushing the political roadmap and INGOs providing all services in the community. Sustainability and ownership is somewhat shelved. What is considered cruciial has to be delivered first then talk of the role of people later. The most respected institutions that has semblance of power is the religious institution and that of clan elders. Aid agencies priority is to get legitimimacy from these institutions in the locations where they operate. They provide security and assurance but that is all. Rarely will these institutions get engaged in designing what they want for peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. Often that is left to the NGOs to decide. Recently an NGO worker asked the community to contribute in digging latrine and the community member asked so what is your role, you eithe do it or we dont was the message. Not surprising of course. As governments start to claim responsibility like in SS, so much trust and confidence building need to be cultivated. this takes time. The new powers will for a long time look to NGOs to cushion them and people will also not easily look to the government. A slow process of building awareness on roles and responsibilities at national and local level needs to be inbuilt from the start. I will be looking forward to your book Brennan. Interesting thought and acronym… I work in Somalia and recently had a short stint in South Sudan. In the former, the aid community is the government. With UN pushing the political roadmap and INGOs providing all services in the community. Sustainability and ownership is somewhat shelved. What is considered cruciial has to be delivered first then talk of the role of people later. The most respected institutions that has semblance of power is the religious institution and that of clan elders. Aid agencies priority is to get legitimimacy from these institutions in the locations where they operate. They provide security and assurance but that is all. Rarely will these institutions get engaged in designing what they want for peaceful coexistence and sustainable development. Often that is left to the NGOs to decide. Recently an NGO worker asked the community to contribute in digging latrine and the community member asked so what is your role, you eithe do it or we dont was the message. Not surprising of course.
As governments start to claim responsibility like in SS, so much trust and confidence building need to be cultivated. this takes time. The new powers will for a long time look to NGOs to cushion them and people will also not easily look to the government. A slow process of building awareness on roles and responsibilities at national and local level needs to be inbuilt from the start. I will be looking forward to your book Brennan.

]]> By: George Hodge http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921&cpage=1#comment-190471 George Hodge Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:22:36 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921#comment-190471 FRACAS had me smiling for 20 minutes! FRACAS had me smiling for 20 minutes!

]]> By: Sue Yardley http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921&cpage=1#comment-190323 Sue Yardley Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:14:33 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921#comment-190323 You raise some really interesting points similar to some we're grappling with at Tearfund. How can we respond to the growing emphasise for all development efforts to contribute to building peaceful and stable states? Can WASH services contribute to peace and state building? We're doing some research in DRC and South Sudan to look at possible entry points for WASH programmes to not only minimise negative impacts on conflict but to maximise positive contributions to peace and state building. Such a new way of working is likely to be thwart with problems, not least when states are predatory. However, its a challenge we need to grapple with and address, rather than shy away from. You raise some really interesting points similar to some we’re grappling with at Tearfund. How can we respond to the growing emphasise for all development efforts to contribute to building peaceful and stable states? Can WASH services contribute to peace and state building?

We’re doing some research in DRC and South Sudan to look at possible entry points for WASH programmes to not only minimise negative impacts on conflict but to maximise positive contributions to peace and state building.

Such a new way of working is likely to be thwart with problems, not least when states are predatory. However, its a challenge we need to grapple with and address, rather than shy away from.

]]> By: Brennan Kraxberger http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921&cpage=1#comment-189973 Brennan Kraxberger Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:55:48 +0000 http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=10921#comment-189973 Great stuff. Even so, it is worth thinking about deeper, structural factors of state decay / weakness that need attention. For example: territorial issues that linger from colonial days, the unintended consequences of ignoring the responsibilites of statehood in the UN era (in contrast to the rights of statehood), and aid as fuel for repressive regimes. INGO's could play an important role in pushing deeper reforms. I'm looking forward to publishing a short book later this year, with a title along the lines of "Failed States: Realities, Risks, and Responses." It will compile and extend some novel thinking about FRACAS. Great stuff. Even so, it is worth thinking about deeper, structural factors of state decay / weakness that need attention. For example: territorial issues that linger from colonial days, the unintended consequences of ignoring the responsibilites of statehood in the UN era (in contrast to the rights of statehood), and aid as fuel for repressive regimes. INGO’s could play an important role in pushing deeper reforms. I’m looking forward to publishing a short book later this year, with a title along the lines of “Failed States: Realities, Risks, and Responses.” It will compile and extend some novel thinking about FRACAS.

]]>