Browse by Theme: Conflict & Fragility

Bill Gates claims to read 20-30 books a month. Yet the truth is most of us working in development rarely read a book cover to cover. ‘Book Off’ – is CARE International UK’s (CIUK’s) attempt to tap into the best new ideas without spending a day in the library. My contribution to this month’s rapid fire discussion group was a look at conflict guru Chris Cramer’s seminal book, Civil War is Not a Stupid Thing, from 2006, and the key ideas it contains.

The Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) largest community reconstruction programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is rewarding the four best performing councils in the region of Maniema more than $100,000 of investment to part fund their own development plans. Can this work and how can the potential pitfalls be avoided?

Bill Gates claims to read 20-30 books a month. Yet the truth is most of us working in development rarely read a book cover to cover. ‘Book Off’ – is CARE International UK’s (CIUK’s) attempt to tap into the best new ideas without spending a day in the library. My contribution to this month’s rapid fire discussion group was a look at conflict guru Chris Cramer’s seminal book, Civil War is Not a Stupid Thing, from 2006, and the key ideas it contains.

In the last few months the world’s leaders have declared and resolved to end sexual violence against women in conflict. First we had the G8 declaration and then UN resolution 2106 but what difference will these really make to the women who are being raped in places like the DRC, Syria and South Sudan?

I have recently returned from South Sudan where I met groups of people who had to travel for days at a time, and sometimes weeks, to get back to their home country. Along the way they saw babies and old people die – just too weak to complete a difficult journey with little or no food, and no protection at all from mosquitoes and the elements.

Everyone I met was relieved to have reached their destination in South Sudan but it was quickly apparent that the physical journey was just the start of their story.

As the world gathers at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, a four-year CARE project addressing gender-based violence in East Africa has shown just what kind of real policy changes can be achieved using joined up advocacy and strong evidence.