For Development Professionals:
Sector: Conflict Management
Photo: Colin Spurway/Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps works almost exclusively in high-risk conflict and post-conflict environments. We currently have programs in more than 40 countries; the vast majority of these (73%) fall into the category of fragile or critically weak states. In addition, over 92% of the places where we work are considered to be at a high or moderately high risk of instability. While we recognize that these are difficult places to operate, we believe that transitional environments – countries affected by civil wars, economic and political crisis, or natural disasters – also offer tremendous opportunities for positive change.
Violent conflict takes a terrible toll on developing countries. It destroys infrastructure, disrupts trade, distorts markets and can reverse decades of development. Conflict-affected nations suffer severe refugee crises and population loss. There are now around 26 million internally displaced persons and over 42 million refugees worldwide, most of whom are fleeing from violence. Generations of children have grown up believing that violence is the only way to find a job, to find meaning or to simply stay alive. These destabilizing elements combine to create ‘conflict-traps’ that keep countries in cycles of violence for decades.”
Helping people find ways to break the cycle of violence and promote peaceful change is at the heart of Mercy Corps’ mandate. We believe that – given the right tools, skills and support – people are eager to understand the complex tensions and challenges they face and to address them in a way that promotes both peace and development. We currently implement 34 peacebuilding programs in some of the world’s toughest places, including Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, and Nepal. Our current work builds on an exceptionally strong historical foundation. Since the late 1990s, Mercy Corps has implemented over 95 peacebuilding programs in over 30 countries and regions, making Mercy Corps a true leader in the field.
To learn how we help people leverage the benefits of conflict management, take a look at the following information:
Conflict Management Sector Approach ›
This document is a comprehensive explanation of Mercy Corps' technical approach to this sector. It describes how, where and why the sector does its works. It gives the reader an in-depth view of why the sector is important to international relief and development while also providing a practical framework and theoretical approach to program development, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. This document is appropriate for a reader who wants a highly technical explanation of the sector with a page count of 5 or more.
Conflict Management Sector Overview ›
This document is a shorter and more simplified version of the Sector Approach. It gives an overview to the sector and why it is important to international relief and development work. It also explains how Mercy Corps structures and implements its sector programs. This document is appropriate for a reader who wants a medium level of technicality and a page count of 4 or below.
Conflict Management Sector Update Fiscal Year 2009 ›
This document offers a snapshot of the sector’s programming strategy, progress and future outlook current for the Fiscal Year 2009 (July 2008 to June 2009). It explains the strategic standing of the agency within the industry and global sector contexts, while using program highlights, successes, impact data and future program potential as evidence. This document is appropriate for a reader who is familiar with Mercy Corps’s sector approach and wants an up-to-date picture of the agency's accomplishments and current operations in this sector.
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