Lessons learned about developing economic programs for peacebuilding:
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“Economic development interventions should be designed to promote mutually beneficial
cooperation rather than increasing competition between adversarial groups.
Economic development interventions designed to promote peace should specifically target the
underlying economic causes of conflict (e.g., natural resource competition) rather than aiming to
increase general economic interactions between adversarial groups.
'Deep' economic interactions (such as participation in economic associations or business
partnerships) may build stronger relationships between adversarial groups and provide a stronger
incentive for peace than 'thin' economic interactions (such as trading at a local market).
Trust-building measures may need to be implemented alongside or prior to economic development
interventions in order to develop the relationships necessary for business partnerships and trade.”
Lessons learned about measuring impact:
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“Focus on a limited number of more precise, less nuanced questions in both survey and focus
group data to simplify data analysis and minimize ambiguous results.
Simplify participatory tools and surveys so that they take less time to administer, more interviews
can be conducted, and sample size can increase.
Favor forced choice questions in the survey instrument.
While the development of indicators and data collection tools are crucial first steps in impact
evaluation, they are not sufficient alone. The ability to measure impact depends on the design of
the research methodology and particularly the use of control groups.
Better tools are needed to assess underlying tensions and risk of future conflict in locations where
there is an absence of overt violence.”
Implications.
“In order to evaluate the impact of peacebuilding and poverty alleviation programs in complex,
conflict-affected environments and, ultimately, improve their effectiveness, the field requires
development of meaningful indicators and practical data collection methods. Without these tools,
programs may be replicating ineffective and potentially harmful practices and failing to scale up or
adopt interventions that do work” (Vaughan, “Conflict,” 2011, p. 5).
Event Description.
This lesson is based on these sources:
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“Conflict & Economics: Lessons Learned on Measuring Impact,” Evaluation and Assessment of Poverty
and Conflict Interventions, J. Vaughan, Mercy Corps, (2011).
“Indonesia Case Study Report,” Evaluation and Assessment of Poverty and Conflict Interventions, J. Graham,
Mercy Corps, (2011).
“Uganda Case Study Report,” Evaluation and Assessment of Poverty and Conflict Interventions, J. Vaughan,
Mercy Corps, (2011).
See also: “Building Bridges to Peace: Final Evaluation Report,” Mercy Corps (with USAID support),
(June 2011).
Lesson Author: Katrina Gehman, Lessons Learned Analyst (Ctr), PKSOI
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