This article provides a critical reflection of World Vision's field practice with Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment (PCIA) related frameworks drawing from experiences in Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda. It particularly discusses the value-added of PCIA and its contribution to programming quality. The article examines the uptake of PCIA findings to inform design, monitoring and evaluation, highlighting the importance of ‘influencing’ as an approach as well as the ‘integrative power’ of relationship and relationship-building. The article examines important challenges associated with the application of the conventional logical framework. It also discusses promising practices that derive from PCIA, including being informed by complex adaptive systems theories and the importance of community participation and engagement in PCIA processes. It concludes with a discussion of implications for effective PCIA micro- (project) and meso- (programme) level usability. The article suggests that minimum standards for PCIA processes, methodology and content are needed. It makes clear that ‘influencing’ and ‘relationship-building’ are core competencies for PCIA practice. It concludes that effective peacebuilding results are achieved when PCIA is internalised by practitioners as a worldview rather than simply deployed as a tool.
AndersonB.M.1999, Do No Harm, How Aid Can Support Peace — or War, Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.
3.
AndersonB.M.2000 ed., Options For Aid in Conflict. Lessons from Field Experience, Cambridge, MA: CDA Collaborative Learning Projects.
4.
BerkesF., ColdingJ. & FolkeC.2003, Navigating Social-Ecological Systems: Building Resilience for Complexity and Change, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
5.
BouldingK.1990, The Three Faces of Power, London: Sage.
6.
BushK.1998, ‘A Measure of Peace: Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment (PCIA) of Development Projects in Conflict Zones’, Working Paper No. 1, Peacebuilding and Reconstruction Program Initiative & Evaluation Unit, IDRC.
7.
BushK.2003, Hands-On PCIA, Part 1, A Handbook for Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment (PCIA), Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
8.
ChinR. & BenneK.1969, ‘General Strategies for Effecting Changes in Human Systems’ in BennisW.G., BenneK.D. & ChinR. eds, The Planning of Change, New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston: 32–59.
9.
ChinR. & BenneK.2005, ‘General Strategies for Effecting Changes in Human Systems’ in Conflict, Power and Change, Birmingham: Responding to Conflict.
FreemanL.2009, ‘Four Priorities for WV Programming in Fragile Contexts, Good Governance, Economic Development, Civic Participation, and Peace and Reconciliation’, internal review of 25 ‘Making Sense of Turbulent Contexts’ workshops in 17 countries, WV International.
12.
GarredM.2007, ‘Conflict-Sensitivity in Emergencies, Learning from the Asia Tsunami Response’, WV: www.wvasiapacific.org.
13.
GarredM. & Abu-NimerM.2006 eds, A Shared Future: Local Capacities for Peace in Community Development, Monrovia, CA: WV International.
14.
GundersonL.H. & HollingC.S.2002, Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems, Washington: Island Press.
15.
HaiderH.2009, ‘Community-based Approaches to Peacebuilding in Conflict-Affected and Fragile Contexts’, Issue Paper, International Development Department, University of Birmingham.
16.
HendrickD.2009, ‘Complexity Theory and Conflict Transformation: An Exploration of Potential and Implications’, Working Paper 17, Centre for Conflict Resolution, Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford.
LeonhardtM.2000, Conflict Impact Assessment of EU Development Co-operation with ACP Countries, A Review of Literature and Practice, International Alert and Saferworld.
20.
LoodeS.2011, ‘Peacebuilding in Complex Social Systems, Journal of Peace, Conflict and Development’ in Journal of Peace, Conflict & Development18: 68–82.
21.
NepalR.T.2007, ‘Effective Ways of Influencing to Integrate Peacebuilding Components in a Development Project’, MA action research report, Paññãsãstra University of Cambodia.
22.
NPI Africa & NCCK 2002. ‘Strategic and Responsive Evaluation of Peacebuilding, Towards a Learning Model’, report of 2nd Action–Reflection Seminar convened by NPI Africa and NCCK-CPBD Project.
23.
OECD DAC 2008. ‘Evaluating Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Activities’, Fact Sheet: www.oecd.org/dac/conflict, accessed 1 June 2013.
24.
PojasekB.R.2005, ‘Improving Processes: The Traditional Approach versus the Systems Approach’ in Environmental Quality Management15: 1: 91–100.
RogersM., ChassyA. & BamatT.2010, Integrating Peacebuilding into Humanitarian and Development Programming, Practical Guidance on Designing Effective, Holistic Peacebuilding Projects, Catholic Relief Services, Baltimore, MD.
27.
SmithD.2004, Towards a Strategic Framework for Peacebuilding: Getting Their Act Together, Overview of the Joint Utstein Study of Peacebuilding, Oslo: Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Peace Research Institute.
28.
WV Canada 2007. Governance, Ecosystems and Livelihoods, Application of Complex Adaptive Systems to WV's Transformational Development Model October 1, 2007–September 31, 2010. A Three-year Program Implemented by WV Canada in Tanzania, Rwanda, Mauritania and DRC.
29.
WV International 2011. I-PACS Assessment Manual, Draft 2.3.
30.
WV Kenya 2009. Evaluation of the North Rift Food Security Recovery Project: Applying a Conflict-Sensitive and Peacebuilding Lens.
31.
WV Rwanda 2013. Integrating Peacebuilding and Conflict-Sensitivity in Programming, Training and Learning Forum Summary Report.
32.
WV South Sudan 2010. Conflict-Sensitivity Program Integration (C-SPIN) Project, End of Project Evaluation Report.
33.
WV Uganda 2008. Capacity Support for Peacebuilding Project, Local Capacities for Peace / Do No Harm (LCP/DNH) Lessons Learnt Report.
