Conflict-Sensitive Development for Sustainable Peace in Nepal
Nepal is approaching nearly a decade since it emerged from a decade-long armed conflict. Various reasons are cited for the emergence of this prolonged conflict in Nepal. However, conflicts in most countries around the world are often driven by issues related to development. In Nepal’s context, areas lagging in development were more severely affected by the conflict. Therefore, to establish sustainable peace and prevent such conflicts in the future, comprehensive national development is essential, alongside the practical implementation of the concept of conflict-sensitive development in Nepal’s development process.
Conflict and Development
Conflict generally creates an unfavorable and challenging environment for a country’s development. In such conditions, the implementation, management, and utilization of development activities and their outcomes become difficult. A development plan that addresses these conditions, directly contributes to conflict resolution and management, and supports peacebuilding is termed conflict-sensitive development. Additionally, there is always a risk that development processes, or actions taken in the name of development, may ignite conflict in society or the nation. Therefore, instead of traditional or conflict-blind development, the concept of conflict-sensitive development emphasizes anticipating and addressing potential conflict triggers to make development conflict-sensitive.
Conflict as an Inevitable Social Phenomenon
In the modern world, completely eliminating conflict from society is impossible. Conflicts arise periodically in various forms and for various reasons. In a dynamic and vibrant society, the emergence of conflict is considered an inevitable phenomenon. Thus, in the continuous and dynamic process of development, it is necessary to make development responsive to conflict. In some cases, conflict can open doors to development and act as a catalyst for social progress. By advancing development activities through conflict-sensitive approaches for the greater benefit of conflict-affected populations, such development not only contributes to the country’s overall progress but also plays a positive role in conflict management and peacebuilding.
Causes of Conflict
There are numerous causes of conflict in society. Many researchers and analysts point out that the primary cause of escalating conflict in a country is the gap between the rich and the poor, coupled with economic and social inequalities. In a developing country like Nepal, which lags in social development and is characterized by social diversity, these causes are varied. Factors such as unequal and disproportionate distribution of educational, economic, and social opportunities, as well as resources and services, lead to class divisions, imbalanced regional development, poverty, and backwardness, all of which contribute to conflict. Similarly, excessive politicization of the development process, which divides society based on political ideologies, also fuels conflict. In recent times, the lack of or failure to implement inclusive and proportional representation in development and social activities has been identified as another significant factor contributing to conflict.
Addressing Conflict for Sustainable Peace
It is crucial to identify the factors that could lead to conflict in a timely manner and align development efforts toward sustaining peace. Conflict and violence exacerbate poverty, while poverty is often a result of structural conflict. Since poverty reduction is a primary goal of development, development aimed at poverty alleviation generally helps prevent violent conflict. Therefore, development plans should analyze conflict and its causes and be designed as conflict-sensitive initiatives.
Implementing Conflict-Sensitive Development
When formulating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating conflict-sensitive development plans, it is essential to identify approaches that address the potential for conflict arising from development and mitigate its impacts. By making the development framework and process inclusive, transparent, flexible, and focused on marginalized areas and disadvantaged communities, it can effectively address conditions that may lead to conflict. During and immediately after a conflict, political institutions weaken, the state’s capacity to deliver basic services declines, capital flees the country, production bases are destroyed, and social networks are disrupted. Such conditions create various obstacles to development management. Conflict-sensitive development plans must adopt appropriate strategies at every stage to address these challenges. During conflicts, implementing development programs in affected areas is challenging due to the absence of state representatives. In such situations, development activities should be carried out with the support of local non-governmental and community-based organizations.
Global Insights on Conflict-Sensitive Development
A study of conflict-affected countries worldwide shows that development activities can proceed even during conflicts if resources and support are delivered directly to the people, if development, reconstruction, and humanitarian aid programs are implemented simultaneously, and if development activities are community-driven. Additionally, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has identified various strategies for conflict-sensitive development. These include maximizing the use of local resources, creating employment opportunities for local communities affected by development activities, and ensuring the active participation of stakeholders at all stages of development. The OECD also emphasizes adopting democratic processes for forming consumer committees and selecting leadership for development projects, as well as ensuring equitable distribution of development benefits across all sections and classes of society to minimize the risk of conflict arising from development.
Nepal’s Context
In Nepal, the concept of conflict-sensitive development is a key strategy in the country’s current development plans, emphasizing inclusive and equitable development to achieve sustainable peace. The government prioritizes creating an environment for sustainable peace by focusing on inclusive and equitable development. Additionally, Nepal’s long-term vision for building a prosperous and modern nation includes promoting peace, reconciliation, mutual harmony, and tolerance through relief, reconstruction, rehabilitation, reintegration, and inclusion processes.
Path Forward for Nepal
Given Nepal’s history of enduring prolonged conflict, special attention to conflict-sensitive development is necessary to prevent such situations in the future and ensure sustainable peace. The prerequisite for this is economic prosperity. Sustainable peace cannot be achieved unless every citizen’s basic needs—such as food, clothing, and shelter—are met, along with access to minimum services and a decent standard of living. Development must be people-centered and responsive to their needs. In today’s context, imposed development processes are unlikely to be accepted by the public. Development activities must be inclusive and equitable, particularly in a multi-ethnic, multilingual, and multi-religious country like Nepal, where the importance of inclusive and proportional development is profound. To achieve sustainable peace, it is equally essential to adopt development strategies that ensure equality, non-discriminatory practices, equal opportunities across all levels and sectors, and guarantee social justice.
To sustain peace and successfully complete Nepal’s ongoing peace process, issuing a new constitution through the Constituent Assembly as soon as possible is critical. Additionally, prioritizing the equitable distribution of development benefits during the state restructuring process is essential. As Nepal has committed to transitioning to a federal structure and is in the process of drafting a new constitution with a federal governance system, giving high priority to conflict-sensitive development from now on can foster hope for sustainable peace in the future.
By Rupnarayan Khatiwada
