Research
Integrated (inter)national responses
In order to efficiently and effectively assist fragile and post-conflict societies, the international community has developed several mechanisms to manage its assistance. Many initiatives have been launched in order to create coordination and coherence, but in practice results are less than optimal. Yet, improvement of harmonization and alignment are crucial for more effective and efficient approaches of international involvement in fragile and post-conflict situations. Solving this problem will require a combination of political and technical approaches.
CRU research in this field focuses on the question how international actors can come to a united yet multifaceted strategy towards fragile states and post-conflict situations, involving a multiplicity of actors and instruments in a so-called integrated or joined-up approach at three levels: the local level (specifically state-society relations in fragile states), the donor government level (whole of government approach) and the international community level (whole of system approach; multilateral coordination / bilateral donor coordination). The research focuses both on questions of content and process, identifying and underlining the interconnectedness of the themes security, governance and socio-economic development as the three main components of an integrated approach towards fragile states.
Specific attention is paid to the different multilateral financing mechanisms available to international actors to channel their contributions to fragile and post-conflict states, and their potential for enhancing effectiveness, coordination and coherence. Research focuses for instance on the question how pooled funding mechanisms can contribute to aid effectiveness in transition situations, and how different funding mechanisms interrelate (assessing the different tools in the toolbox).