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I have often been asked about the themes that link CDA projects. Each project clearly has a focus on situations of conflict, disaster and chronic fragility. However, CDA projects are also connected by the shared goal of making international assistance more effective, more transparent and more accountable.

It has been encouraging therefore to observe the growing global interest in these areas amongst our partners and donors. In this edition, you will find links to CDA work in these critical areas. CDA intends to remain at the forefront of this important trend through our work on evaluation of conflict prevention and peacebuilding activities; workstreams on responsible business practices with the UN Global Compact; and review of recipient feedback mechanisms.

As always, our collaborative partnerships will be pivotal to our success. I am particularly looking forward to welcoming several of our colleagues to the Do No Harm consultations in Cambridge next week. I also extend an invitation to participate in the forthcoming round of feedback workshops for Reflecting on Peace Practice.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to say farewell to two departing CDA staff members. Ana Paula do Nascimento left us in March to move with her family to Sweden. Ethan Schechter will shortly leave to take up an exciting opportunity with Seeds of Peace in the Middle East. Thank you to both of them for their work on behalf of CDA and my best wishes to them in their future endeavors. 

Cheers,

Steve

New LP Issue Paper "Perceptions of Aid in Places Affected by Conflict" This Issue Paper highlights the perspectives of people in several aid recipient countries that have experienced inter-group and communal divisions and violence, and in some cases wars.  Among the different issues surrounding the conflict (in)sensitivity of international aid efforts, we highlight the two most prevalent themes: 1) concerns about the politicization of aid and the harmful effects of external agendas, and 2) policy and programming decisions that determine where, when, how and to whom assistance is provided.  

New DNH Issue Paper "Keeping It: Maintaining and Sustaining Do No Harm" This Issue Paper looks at the evidence from the Reflective Case Studies of the maintenance of Do No Harm in organizations and sustainability.

Report on RPP use in Peacebuilding Evaluation: A newly released report written by Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church explores how RPP tools and concepts are being used in Peacebuilding Evaluations across the field, and suggests opportunities for greater organizational use of RPP in Peacebuilding Evaluation. (May 2011)

Community Perspectives on the Business Responsibility to Respect Human Rights CEP launched this report as part of the Institute for Human Rights and Business launch of their “From Red to Green Flags”. (May 2011)

Ten Lessons from the DNH Reflective Cases The DNH team has produced a list of 10 lessons from the Reflective Cases. (April 2011)

The Six Lessons from the DNH Project With the experience of practitioners ringing in our ears from the reflective cases, the original "7 Lessons" have been slightly revised and condensed to "6 Lessons". (April 2011)

Field Guide for Conflict Analysis Peter has been working on a Field Guide with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) Preventive Action Working Group. They met in Madrid to discuss the draft Guide, and outline an additional resource for GPPAC regions: Guidance and for Engaging Multiple Stakeholders in the Development of Preventive Action Plans. (May 2011)

Field Guide for Conflict Analysis Field Test Peter tested the latest version of the guide in Sudan (South Kordofan) with Norwegian Church Aid. (May 2011)

3D Security Initiative's Civil Society-Military Dialogues Marshall was invited to make sure Do No Harm was front and center in the most recent conversation in Washington D.C. More information about this series of discussions is available. (May 2011)

“From Red to Green Flags” Initiative Launched Dost attended the Institute for Human Rights and Business launch of the “From Red to Green Flags” report in Geneva. (May 2011)

Humanitarian Exchange Article Dayna's article for the Humanitarian Exchange journal highlights the views of local people on how international aid agencies partner with local organisations, and the effect of these relationships on the quality and effectiveness of aid efforts. "Building effective partnerships: local views.". (April 2011)

UN Global Compact Local Networks Forum Dost attended the Annual Local Network Forum in Copenhagen, where she co-facilitated an all-day session with companies and investors involved in the Pilot Project on Guidance on Responsible Business in Conflict-Affected and High Risk Areas. (May 2011)

Eastern Mennonite University Summer Peacebuilding Institute Diana and Peter taught a seven-day course, “From Analysis to Strategy to Design: A Systems Perspective”. (May 2011)

World Bank/International Monetary Fund Panel Dayna participated on a panel at the World Bank/IMF Civil Society Forum called, "Winds of Change: Will They Bring a New Paradigm to Development Assistance?” (April 2011)

Africa Presentation Dayna presented LP findings to Africare staff in the field and at their HQ in Washington, DC. (April 2011)

Field Visit to Myanmar/Burma Dost and Luc Zandvliet of Triple R Alliance visited the Yadana pipeline area in Myanmar and spent several days in Yangon, meeting with NGOs, UN agencies and companies. This visit was the sixth in the series of CEP visits to Total operations in Myanmar/Burma since 2002. A field visit report is forthcoming. (April 2011)

2011 PDAC Conference Dost presented the Understanding Conflict Field Tool, which was collaboratively developed together with the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, World Vision and CEP. The presentation at the PDAC conference shared examples of work that has been done so far by companies that have been field testing the tool. (March 2011)

LP Presentations in Australia Dayna presented LP findings to staff from AusAID in Canberra and the Oxfam Australia board and staff in Melbourne. (March 2011)

LP and DNH Presentation and Meetings in New Zealand Dayna presented on DNH and LP findings to the NZ Aid Programme staff and others in Wellington and held meetings with senior staff to discuss the implications of LP findings on their work. (March 2011)

CEP Field Visit to IAMGOLD Peru This field visit reviewed how IAMGOLD is using the Understanding Conflict Tool. The company is one of five that are field testing the newly developed tool. A field visit report is forthcoming. (March 2011)

Feedback Loop Research LP recently conducted research on beneficiary/recipient feedback mechanisms. The team looked for lessons learned about what works and what does not in gathering and then effectively utilizing feedback from those who are affected by outside assistance efforts. The goal was to learn how (or if) the opinions of those targeted by aid are used to inform decision-making and program design/strategy in international agencies. Our findings have been very informative and the report will be released in the near future. Send us an email if you would like to receive a copy! (March-April 2011)

Academy for Conflict Transformation/Forum ZFD Peter made a presentation on a panel at a two-day conference in Bonn. The topic of the 2 day event was Measuring Effectiveness. (April 2011)

Systems Thinking Focus Groups Diana helped to conduct focus groups for USAID staff about integrating “systems thinking” into conflict analysis together with Rob Ricigliano, the Director of the Institute of World Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. (March 2011)

DNH Consultation DNH is holding a Consultation, June 8-10, to discuss Issue Papers based on evidence from the Reflective Cases. (June 2011)

LP at the World Conference on Humanitarian Studies, Tufts University Dayna is on the panel called, “Why Do We Need to Listen and How Should Humanitarian Agencies Do it?” (June 2011)

Norwegian Church Aid Global Workshop As a follow-up to Peter’s work with NCA in Sudan this spring field testing the newly developed Field Guide for Conflict Analysis, he will conduct a training workshop with NCA staff from several regions in Oslo. (June 2011)

Upcoming Site Visit to Total E&P operations in Uganda CEP will conduct a site visit to Total E&P Uganda. As with all CEP field visits, the project will meet with a broad range of local stakeholders as it works with the company to support options for positive business practices and constructive community engagement. (June 2011)

Open Forum on CSO Development Effectiveness, Cambodia Dayna will participate in this event. (June 2011)

“Understanding Conflict” Field Testing CEP is continuing ongoing support to implement the Understanding Conflict Tool with mining companies in Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Mexico. (Summer 2011)

Conflict Prevention Meeting RPP is working with Eileen Babbitt of the Fletcher School to organize and facilitate an exploratory meeting among organizations that are implementing conflict prevention programs. (July 2011)

Catalytic Effects Diana and Peter are working with PeaceNexus, together with Mark Rogers, on Phase II of a process examining the “Catalytic Effects” of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund efforts. (Summer 2011)

RPP Feedback Workshops RPP is planning Feedback Workshops on the Cumulative Case Study Issue Papers which take place in Geneva and Bern, Switzerland. (Summer 2011)

DNH Feedback Workshops DNH is planning Feedback Workshops on the Reflective Case Study Issue Papers. (Fall 2011)

DNH Guidance Notes DNH will continue to draft guidance notes. The next two topics will be "Human Rights and DNH" and "M&E and DNH". These Guidance Notes are a collaborative effort of practitioners globally. Please email if you are interested in contributing to either of these topics! (Summer 2011)

Upcoming Policy Briefs from LP Policy briefs on the views from aid recipients regarding the principles laid out in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness will be released over the coming months. (Summer 2011)

LP Issue Papers The topics of these issue papers will be "Sustainability & Ownership" and "Communication". (Summer 2011)

LP Final Publication LP staff are working on the final publication from this phase, which we plan to have finished by the end of 2011. (Winter 2011)