Peace and conflict toolbox

The Peace and Conflict Toolbox is useful for those working specifically on peace and human security, as well as for those working with international development cooperation or humanitarian aid in general. The main target group is Sida staff, but the toolbox also includes information that may be useful for Sida's cooperation partners.

The toolbox includes tools that deal with conflict sensitivity in all development cooperation, as well as tools that focus specifically on peace building. The toolbox contains method support and guidance for various parts of Sida's work. You will learn about:

• integrating a conflict perspective, also known as conflict sensitivity, into strategies,
• integrating conflict sensitivity into contribution management and in programmes and projects,
• using conflict analyses,
• working for peace in development cooperation. (More material to come in late 2023).

The toolbox contains two types of materials:

• Summarized information (briefs)
• Comprehensive overviews or supporting materials (Technical notes and Thematic overviews).

The toolbox will be continuously updated with additional materials based on identified needs and priorities.

Violence and armed conflict lead to human suffering and material destruction. It harms human development and the development of countries and make it more difficult to get out of poverty. Peace is a prerequisite for sustainable development. When designing development assistance, we must always take into account how it can affect the tensions and conflicts that already exist in society. All development cooperation must support peaceful development, and must never thwart its own aims by inadvertently exacerbating violence and conflict.

Conflict sensitivity or the conflict perspective means systematically planning and implementing activities in a way that prevents or minimizes negative and maximizes positive effects. A negative effect is everything that exacerbates a conflict, a positive effect is everything that increases the prospects for peace.

Conflict sensitivity and the conflict perspective are always important and relevant, not only in areas with or with risk of armed conflict, but also where peace prevails. At Sida we use the terms “conflict sensitivity" and "conflict perspective" more or less as synonyms.

This section includes information and helpful tips about things to consider when you commission or conduct conflict analyses.

This section includes information and methodological support on mainstreaming the conflict perspective, also known as conflict sensitivity, in all development cooperation.

Here you find information on the thematic area "peaceful and inclusive societies", where peace is the primary goal.

Sida's portfolio overview details how the support to peace and security is used.