Maluku Case Study

Violent conflict erupted in the Maluku province of Indonesia during January of 1999, beginning a period of civil and social instability that lasted until the signing of a 2002 peace agreement and still manifests itself in sporadic outbreaks of violence.

Global attention has often focused on Muslim and Christian differences as the source of the conflict, but political, ethnic, economic, and cultural factors form the root causes of the violence.

This case study examines Mercy Corps' humanitarian aid and economic recovery program begun in Maluku fifteen months after the conflict erupted. The program's defining characteristic lies in its unified team working on a variety of intervention projects using only local partners.

The case study provides an analysis of assistance activities, an explanation of the local partner and team selection process, and an overview of the challenges and solutions present in such an unstable environment.