CDA Collaborative Learning Projects is a non-profit organization committed to improving the effectiveness of international actors who provide humanitarian assistance, engage in peace practice, and are involved in supporting sustainable development. For more information on who we are and what we do, please visit our website and staff directory.

Since its inception, CDA’s mission has been to foster understanding of complex issues by constructing tools, frameworks and methodologies that are accessible and easy to use for multiple stakeholders.

In recent months, CDA has furthered this reputation for innovative and ‘outside the box’ thinking with the launch of several tools and initiatives that challenge or extend conventional wisdom. The Corporate Engagement Program just launched a new conflict analysis tool for mineral prospectors; the Do No Harm Program has embarked on a two year program to integrate conflict-sensitivity into policies and programs of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Colombia; the Listening Program has applied its well-tested listening methodology to an evaluation of the long-term impacts of Oxfam International tsunami aid in South India; and the Reflecting on Peace Practice Program has convened a small group of experts to develop monitoring and evaluation guidance for small-scale peacebuilding and conflict prevention activities. These and other activities are described in this Newsletter. Each of these efforts is unique, but the common thread is the emphasis on ‘practicality’ – we want to see CDA materials used, not adorning shelves in offices.

With this in mind, CDA has recently engaged with two learning groups established among the NGOs receiving assistance through DFID Program Partnership Arrangements. These learning groups aim to better demonstrate the results of NGOs’ distinctive contributions to sustainable development. Many readers of this Newsletter are already well aware of the immense contributions NGOs make to poverty reduction, peacebuilding and humanitarian objectives. We all need to do much better, however, at capturing and presenting the evidence of these achievements so that these contributions are visible.

We would love to hear from you (our partners) about how CDA tools have changed the way you work, your successes and your struggles. I invite you to contact me or any other CDA staff with stories and other anecdotal evidence about the impacts of CDA tools on those we work with and for. Thank you.

Cheers,

Steve

A New Tool from the Corporate Engagement Program Preventing Conflict in Exploration: A Toolkit for Explorers and Developers is a simple and practical analysis Tool that helps mining exploration and development companies approach their business activities in a manner that furthers positive relations with local communities, even where tensions or conflict exist in the local operating environment. The Toolkit and complementary Tool were developed jointly by CDA, World Vision Canada, and the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.

Conflict Sensitivity and the Colombian Land Restitution Law Nicole was present at the signing of the official agreement between the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture and the Swiss Development Cooperation and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia for the on-going partnership to integrate conflict sensitivity into Colombia’s Land Restitution law. CDA will play a supporting role in this process.

Peacebuilding Evaluation RPP held a two day Evaluation Consultation in Cambridge that brought together a small group of participants from professional evaluation and peacebuilding backgrounds. Participants reviewed three concept notes that build on the OECD-DAC Guidance for Evaluating Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding, inputs from previous RPP consultations, an examination of actual evaluation practice and other sources.  The concept notes are being revised based on participant feedback and will be available this spring. (Dec 2011)

Listening Exercise in Southern India Isabella joined colleagues from Oxfam International, Oxfam India and local partner organizations to conduct a listening exercise in Tamil Nadu, India, to evaluate the long-term impacts of the tsunami relief efforts in 2004. This listening effort was part of Oxfam International’s evaluation of its tsunami response with an aim to capture feedback about long-term effects of the relief efforts.  Although many humanitarian organizations are interested in long-term impacts, few are able to invest the time to go back and listen to beneficiaries’ perspectives. The listening team visited communities along the coast and asked people to reflect on the overall contributions and long-term impacts of assistance.  People described a series of cascading effects, some quite positive and empowering, such as the improvement in women’s pay and social status in many lower caste communities and increased disaster preparedness. Other effects, such as environmental impacts from new types of boats that were distributed, were also of concern to communities.  A forthcoming report produced for the learning of all Oxfam affiliates will capture pieces of this complex picture. (Jan 2012)

Monthly Developments Magazine Articles Isabella wrote an article on beneficiary feedback mechanisms and Dayna wrote a short piece on fragile states and the follow-up from Busan. Both articles appeared in the January 2012 Issue, which will be available online soon.

New DNH Guidance Note Evaluation and DNH outlines the three ways in which DNH can be used in evaluations. The Note also includes an Annex: Quick Do No Harm Analysis for Evaluators. (March 2012)

Policy Brief How to Make Aid More Effective for People Affected by Conflict and Fragility (December 2011)

ALNAP Blog Steve wrote on Post Busan Reflections. (Dec 2011)

Hauser Center Blog Isabella wrote on Aid Effectiveness in Fragile Contexts to highlight the LP policy briefs as a pre-Busan Discussion. (Nov 2011)

Position Paper for United States Institute of Peace CEP is currently writing a position paper on options and opportunities for designing successful models for community-based monitoring mechanisms in places where extractive operations take place. (Spring 2012)

Feedback Workshops and Network Studies DNH has begun a series of Feedback Workshops to bring our most recent lessons back out to the field for further feedback. In conjunction with these visits, we have also begun to examine several Conflict Sensitivity Networks, which have developed in recent years. Our aim is to uncover how these networks have influenced CS knowledge and practice. Nicole and Candice ran feedback workshops in Sri Lanka and Chennai, India, and several more visits are planned. (Jan - Feb 2012)

Strategic Planning with Suncor Dost visited Calgary to work with the energy company Suncor in developing a strategic planning document to align their policies and practices with the UN Global Compact’s Guidance on Responsible Business in Conflict-Affected and High Risk Areas. (Jan 2012)

RPP Learning Community RPP Learning Community networks continue to be developed in East/Central Africa and in Asia, working through local partner organizations and networks.  The training and feedback workshops in Nairobi and Bangkok provided opportunities to discuss future plans for working with those groups, clarifying how CDA/RPP can be most helpful in the coming year.

Guest Lecture at Fletcher Marshall gave a presentation on DNH to Cheyanne Church’s class. (Jan 2012)

RPP Learning Community Website has been reestablished through the GPPAC Peace Portal. Participants have been invited to sign up and RPP will be posting revised issue papers for comments.

“Preventing Conflict in Exploration” Field Testing CEP completed field test visits to sites in Sierra Leone (Nov 14-22) and Mexico (Nov 28-Dec 5). Along with feedback collected in Peru and Madagascar, the team has redrafted the Tool. 

DNH Training for UNICEF Nigeria DNH was contracted to provide facilitators for 4 DNH trainings for UNICEF staff at 3 sites in Nigeria. Millicent Otieno and John Moore facilitated these events (Nov 2011)

US Institute of Peace Workshop CEP will present their position paper on community-based monitoring mechanisms at a technical workshop held by USIP in Dubai (Mar 2012).

Kenya Workshops While in Kenya for the Feedback Workshop Marshall and Nicole will run an Exposure Workshop for International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and will help facilitate two workshops with Local Capacities for Peace International. (Mar 2012)

Upcoming Events Isabella will attend the CDAC and ODI events in London this month. (Mar 2012)

DNH Trainings in Cambridge DNH is planning a DNH Exposure Workshop and a Training of Trainers. Please email if you are interested in attending.  (Apr 2012)

RPP Cumulative Case Process and Issue Papers  The nine current Issue Papers are in the process of being revised, based on the feedback workshops this fall.

RPP Feedback Workshops Additional Feedback Workshops are planned or possible during the first half of 2012. In some cases, we may be able to combine training with the feedback workshop.

• Middle East (regional)
• Francophone Africa (regional)
• Latin America (regional)
• The Hague (GPPAC international group)
• Bern
• Sri Lanka
• New York
• Washington, DC.

Upcoming DNH Feedback Workshops and Network Study

• Kenya/ East Africa
• Uganda/South Sudan
• Phillipines
• Nepal/Bhutan
• Switzerland/Norway/Sweden/UK/Germany
• US - New York/Washington

Final Publication During the second quarter of 2012, RPP staff will be concentrating on consolidating the lessons and findings and incorporating them into a major report or book.

Upcoming DNH Guidance Note on Human Rights and DNH.

DNH Exposure workshop at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Medford, MA (Spring 2012)

ALNAP-CDA Joint Initiative Three field-based case studies will be carried out this year to gather evidence on the use of feedback mechanisms and produce guidance.

LP Book LP staff have been busy writing the book summarizing the findings, with the publication due later this year.

STEPS Book The final publication, "Opting out of War: Strategies to Prevent Violent Conflict," has been sent to the publishers. We expect it will be ready for purchase in Summer 2012!