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Can Development Programming Reduce Armed Violence?
Current Field Experience
and Implications for International Policy

Monday December 14, 2009
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM*

CCIC Boardroom, 450 Rideau St., Ste. 200, Ottawa

 

*registration is required as space is limited. To register, please contact Maribel Gonzales mgonzales@ploughshares.ca by 10 December 2009

 

Background

The 2007 Project Ploughshares Armed Conflict Report indicates that 1.6 per cent of the countries ranked as High Development states by the UN Human Development Index in 2006 experienced one or more armed conflicts during the 10-year period 1997–2006. This figure rises to 30.1 per cent of those ranked as Medium Human Development states. For Low Human Development states, there is again a rise to 38.7 per cent. Armed violence, whether in situations of great lawlessness and crime or in full-scale conflict situations, undermines development.

The Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, the multilateral instrument that advocates for a formal policy linkage between armed violence and development programming, has been adopted by more than 108 states. Designed to promote the achievement of practical results on the ground, the process has built in civil society participation.

Examining the relationship between the reduction of armed violence and development is a key activity of the Peacebuild Small Arms Working Group (SAWG). In February 2007 SAWG convened a roundtable, “Exploring the Development and Armed Violence Nexus,” aimed at helping development policymakers and practitioners to explore Canadian practice and policy in this emerging programming area. On December 14, 2009, the Peacebuild Small Arms Working Group in collaboration with the Canadian Council for International Cooperation will hold a workshop, “Can Development Programming Reduce Armed Violence? Current Practice and Implications for International Policy,” to continue this dialogue.

Highlights of the research findings from a recent report that was collaboratively produced by Project Ploughshares and World Vision Canada, Addressing Armed Violence in East Africa: A Report on World Vision Peacebuilding, Development and Humanitarian Assistance Programmes, will be presented at the workshop to serve as a takeoff point for discussions.

Objectives of the Workshop

1. To review findings of the research undertaken by Project Ploughshares on World Vision Canada’s Peacebuilding Programme in selected areas of Kenya, Uganda, and Sudan.

2. To explore and exchange experiences of the Canadian development community in promoting practical armed violence prevention and reduction programs in development programming.

3. To discuss concerns about including armed violence reduction in development programming.

4. To examine examples of NGO programming policies on armed violence reduction

5. To discuss the Geneva Declaration process and its relation to achieving the MDGs.

6. To identify possible entry points and tools for armed violence reduction work and ways of incorporating armed violence reduction into development programming.

Agenda

10:00	Welcome, roundtable objectives and introductions –Maribel Gonzales,  Peacebuild Small Arms Working Group
10:15	Addressing Armed Violence, a case example: World Vision Peacebuilding Program in East Africa –   World Vision Representative (to be confirmed) and Ken Epps, Project Ploughshares Context of the work in East Africa  Highlights of findings Implications for policy development and programming
11:00	Break
11:15	Programming through an Armed Violence  Lens:  a Discussion   –  John Siebert, Project Ploughshares Why consider armed violence reduction? Activities that typical programs include NGO policies on armed violence reduction programming Concerns about including armed violence reduction in development programming
12:00	Lunch and refreshments (provided)
1:00	The Geneva Declaration process & Millennium Development Goals  ­– David Jackman, Quaker United Nations  Office An update on the Geneva Declaration process Relationship of  AVR work to achieving the MDGs Next steps
1:45-2:00	5. Wrap Up  - John Siebert, Project Ploughshares Key elements of an AVR policy Possible entry points Ways of incorporating AVR in programming

Documentation related to the Workshop

1. Project Ploughshares and World Vision Canada. 2009 “Addressing Armed Violence in East Africa: A Report on World Vision Peacebuilding, Development and Humanitarian Assistance Programme”

2. OECD. 2009. Conflict and Fragility Armed Violence Reduction Enabling Development

3. Geneva Declaration. 2008. "Global Burden of Armed Violence.”

4. QUNO. 2009. Mapping of Armed Violence Reduction Initiatives (QUNO draft will be available at the workshop)

5. DanChurchAid. 2009. Armed Violence Prevention and Reduction Programming Policy

6. Canadian Council for International Co-operation. 2006. Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Security: Should the Criteria be expanded?

7. Yeung, Christina. 2008. “Armed Violence Reduction and Development Programming: the Canadian Experience and Status.” Peacebuild Small Arms Working Group and Project Ploughshares

8. Communidad Segura, a web-based resource for exchanging information, ideas and practices on issues of individual and community security