Prevention – key to reducing poverty and conflict
Prevention is key to reducing poverty and conflict and to achieving the sustainable development goals. Not only does it reduce suffering for vulnerable communities, it also streamlines aid and ensures that resources are targeted at the drivers of poverty and conflict.
What
Prevention – preventing something from happening; poverty from increasing, conflict from occurring or reoccurring – is complicated. It can be achieved in different ways by strengthening resilience against both conflict and poverty in local communities. This may be accomplished through initiatives in different sectors, including peace and peacebuilding, health and education, as well as by supporting efforts for more inclusive economies and societies. This is considered structural prevention, which entails long-term development initiatives that reduce the risk of increased poverty and conflict. There is great commitment to, and agreement on the importance of prevention among donors, as well as multilateral and civil society organisations.
Why
The OECD’s ‘States of Fragility Report 2016’ notes that ODA is often directed at the symptoms rather than the actual drivers and underlying causes of fragility. In the report, donors are encouraged to invest in prevention, as prevention saves lives, resources and money.
This is also reflected in ‘Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict’, where it is noted that prevention needs to be prioritised. The report notes that a scaled-up system for prevention could save between USD 5 and 70 billion each year.
Focusing on prevention is essential, as it can prevent serious suffering, help achieve the sustainable development goals more quickly and effectively and ensure resilient local communities at an earlier stage. From a donor perspective, prevention saves significant resources compared to reconstruction.
How
Norwegian development aid supports Norwegian and international organisations that work on prevention. This includes identifying what works. Norway also participates in international cooperation in the area, including with the UN and World Bank. Norad provides specialist advice to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies with regard to prevention.
Who/where
Funding for prevention work is allocated to Norwegian and international organisations, as well as multilateral organisations working in different sectors, countries and contexts, all of which contribute to the prevention agenda. In particular, Norway supports many multilateral organisations and funds that focus on prevention, including the UNDP, the World Bank and the State and Peacebuilding Fund.
Links
Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict (worldbank.org)
Contact
For more information please contact the Section for Prevention and Stabilisation