Crisis Prevention & Recovery
Violent conflicts and natural disasters can wipe out decades of development gains. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) addresses the effects of these man-made and natural crises as part of its efforts to cut world poverty in half by 2015.
Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding
UNDP programmes address the root causes of violent conflict by strengthening national conflict management capabilities; integrating conflict prevention into national development planning; and building consensus out of disputes through multi-stakeholder dialogues.
Ghana: UNDP supports local authorities and civil society in Northern Ghana to prevent violence and maintain stability, especially in connection with national elections. Confidence-building activities for the general population are combined with outreach to the major political parties. UNDP teaches constructive negotiation skills and trains mediators from government, political parties and civil society to strengthen democratic institutions. Based on this successful work, Ghanaian authorities, with UNDP support, launched a national 'architecture for peace' which outlines an early response to emerging conflicts.
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration
UNDP provides technical advice for the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants. Additional support helps communities to receive returning ex-combatants, address the availability and misuse of weapons and reduce the incidence of armed violence.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Following a peaceful negotiation and the end of conflict, UNDP supported the Ituri Disarmament and Community Integration Programme. Through this programme, 37,000 excombatants were demobilized, and income-generating activities were initiated for 80,000 ex-combatants and community members. Projects included the production of items such as bricks and honey; the creation of an agricultural cooperative to operate a mill and raise farm animals; and public building projects which built a bridge and created a school. As part of UNDP's continuing efforts to increase gender equality, women made up more than 50 percent of the beneficiaries of the livelihoods programme.
For further information contact:
Christina LoNigro
United Nations Development Programme
Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery
One United Nations Plaza, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: +1.212.906.5301
Fax: +1.212.906.5364
Or visit: www.undp.org
