Operating in situations of conflict and fragility - an EU staff Handbook

Tools & Methods Series - Reference document n° 17

While in recent years many countries have moved out of poverty, it is striking that one in three of the world’s poor are living in a fragile or conflict-affected situation. Consider this: if we fail to act, and act decisively, by 2018 that figure will be one in two. The Arab Spring, setbacks in Mali, South Sudan and the Central African Republic and, most recently, renewed conflict in the Middle East show that the legacy of conflict and fragility cannot be erased over night. Long-term, targeted engagement is the only solution in these situations.

This is a handbook written by staff. It recounts staff experience as told in the first person and documented in evaluations. As such, it seeks to reap the benefits of the EU’s rich experience in situations of conflict and fragility. It is also a handbook written for staff. As such, it hopes to provide staff newly deployed to such situations with a useful overview of current concepts, policies, instruments and good practices. It does not set out new policies or procedures at length; instead, it summarises them in a single document and points to where more detailed guidance and documentation can be obtained. Last but not least, it is a living handbook. As new challenges emerge — be they related to demography, new technologies, climate change or identity politics — the business model for engaging in situations of conflict and fragility will evolve. This handbook will reflect the new developments and lessons learned.

For further details, read the article on Operating in Situations of Conflict and Fragility