Authors:
USAID
Year Published:
2016
Resource Type:
Technical Guidance
Language:
English

Conflict sensitivity encourages organizations to understand and track the conflict dynamics in the contexts in which they are working. As these changes arise, organizations can adapt their programs to minimize their negative effects on conflict and build upon their positive effects. The application of conflict sensitivity usually does not require a major restructuring of a project or an explicit focus on peacebuilding; even minor adjustments to a project can have significant impacts on its interaction with the conflict context. Conflict sensitivity is the ability of an organization engaged in any kind of intervention to: 1. Understand the conflict dynamics in the context in which it operates, particularly with respect to inter-group relations; 2. Understand the interaction between the intervention and the conflict dynamics in the context; and 3. Act upon this understanding in order to minimize unintended negative impacts and maximize positive impacts of the intervention on the context of conflict.