The Role and Place of Health in Preventing Violence, Post-Conflict Recovery, and Building the Peace Australia-Canada Health and Conflict Research Project.

The Role and Place of Health in Preventing Violence,

Post-Conflict Recovery, and Building the Peace

Australia-Canada Health and ConflictResearch Project

Funded by AusAID

“ “ Tale of two ministers”Tale of two ministers”Project backgroundProject background

preoccupation with ‘human security’preoccupation with ‘human security’

Australia and Canada working to Australia and Canada working to strengthen response to threats through strengthen response to threats through multilateral and bilateral relationshipsmultilateral and bilateral relationships

Concern to improve impact and Concern to improve impact and contribution to peace-buildingcontribution to peace-building

Project goalProject goal

To enhance development policy and To enhance development policy and practice in relation to health sector practice in relation to health sector

contributions as avenues for conflict contributions as avenues for conflict prevention, peace-building and prevention, peace-building and

reconstruction while contributing to the reconstruction while contributing to the growing body of knowledge in the growing body of knowledge in the

field.field.

Australia – Canada ConsortiumAustralia – Canada Consortium

University of New South Wales University of New South Wales multi-disciplinary team:multi-disciplinary team: School of Public Health and Community MedicineSchool of Public Health and Community Medicine School of Sociology and AnthropologySchool of Sociology and Anthropology School of PsychiatrySchool of Psychiatry Centre for Culture and HealthCentre for Culture and Health

Canadian team:Canadian team: McMaster University’s Peace through Health programMcMaster University’s Peace through Health program

In-country coordinatorsIn-country coordinators BougainvilleBougainville

Mr Melchior Dare, HIV Response Coordinator, Mr Melchior Dare, HIV Response Coordinator, Bougainville Provincial AIDS CommitteeBougainville Provincial AIDS Committee

East TimorEast Timor Dr Joao Soares Martins, Dean, Faculty of Public Dr Joao Soares Martins, Dean, Faculty of Public

Health, University da PazHealth, University da Paz Dr. Nelson Martins, PhD candidate, Menzies School Dr. Nelson Martins, PhD candidate, Menzies School

of Health Research, Darwinof Health Research, Darwin Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands

Dr. George Malefoasi, Dr. George Malefoasi, Under Secretary for Health Under Secretary for Health Care, Care, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Health, Honiara Honiara

Sri LankaSri Lanka Dr Palitha Abeykoon, WHO Consultant, ColomboDr Palitha Abeykoon, WHO Consultant, Colombo

The University of New South Wales Health and Conflict Project

School of Public Health and Community Medicine,

School of Psychiatry, School of Sociology and Anthropology and the Centre for Culture and Health,

University of New South Wales

28 November 2004

Issues Paper II

The Challenge of Human Resource Management in Conflict–Prone Situations

Issues Paper I

Health and Peace-building: Securing the Future

The University of New South Wales Health and Conflict Project

School of Public Health and Community Medicine,

School of Psychiatry, School of Sociology and Anthropology and the Centre for Culture and Health,

The University of New South Wales

December 2004

Issues IIssues IHealth and Peace-building : Health and Peace-building :

Securing the FutureSecuring the Future

Sets the scene for contemplating Sets the scene for contemplating the relationship the relationship between health in conflict prevention, between health in conflict prevention, humanitarian crises and post-conflict humanitarian crises and post-conflict

development, specifically focusing on the long-development, specifically focusing on the long-term health and social impacts of violence.term health and social impacts of violence.

http://http://healthandconflict.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.auhealthandconflict.sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au//

Health and Peace-Health and Peace-buildingbuilding

Conflict Vulnerability Assessment

Health Assessment

Conflict-Health Assessment

+

Conflict vulnerability assessment

Health assessment

Combined health and conflict assessment

Health and Peace-Health and Peace-buildingbuilding

Equity & Human Rights

Social Cohesion

Health Conditions

Human Security

• Conflict Sensitivity• Cultural Competence

overarching framework for health and peace-building

themes that can take the human security framework forward

3 pillars upon which conflict prevention and peace building stand for health intervention strategies

Peace-building Filters For health programs to be peace-building programs, they should address

the following :

Issue

Question

Not at all

Some-what

Very much

Description of

Action or

Recommended Action

1. Equity 1.1 Does the program increase equity of access to health services and/or health promoting opportunities?

2. Human Rights

2.1 Does the program promote dignity and respect ...

3. Social Cohesion

3.1 Does the program strengthen social ties ...

Health and Peace-building Filter Health and Peace-building Filter (HPBF)(HPBF)

Our visionOur vision simple practical toolsimple practical tool multiple scope and focusmultiple scope and focus

• Core concepts useable at all levelsCore concepts useable at all levels : : planningplanning monitoring/ assessmentmonitoring/ assessment evaluationevaluation

• By multiple actorsBy multiple actors developing, developing, implementing implementing financing financing

Ideal outcome : simple practical Ideal outcome : simple practical tooltool

however, need to “chart the conceptual however, need to “chart the conceptual boundaries” (K Bush, 2005)boundaries” (K Bush, 2005)

Survey existing theories, tools, previous Survey existing theories, tools, previous research (phase I)research (phase I)

Conversations, experiences, trial different Conversations, experiences, trial different versions (phase II)versions (phase II)

ChallengesChallenges

How to balance How to balance Donor requirements & needsDonor requirements & needs Research requirementsResearch requirements Local needs Local needs Context specificity / consistencyContext specificity / consistency

Need to set boundaries in initial developmentNeed to set boundaries in initial development

Where are we today : HPB filterWhere are we today : HPB filter Support to develop & trial in 3 Asia-Pacific countriesSupport to develop & trial in 3 Asia-Pacific countries Concept explorationConcept exploration

• QuestionnaireQuestionnaire• WorkshopsWorkshops• Focus groupsFocus groups

Will develop (for AusAID) :Will develop (for AusAID) :• FilterFilter• Guidelines for useGuidelines for use• Case studiesCase studies

Pre-workshop HPBF

Conflict SensitivityConflict Sensitivity Conflict managementConflict managementTrustTrustNon-violenceNon-violence

Cultural CompetenceCultural Competence Cultural awarenessCultural awarenessCultural sensitivityCultural sensitivity

Human rights and social Human rights and social cohesioncohesion

Equity, non-discriminationEquity, non-discriminationHuman rights, social Human rights, social justicejusticeGenderGender

Social cohesionSocial cohesion Social cohesionSocial cohesionPsych-socialPsych-socialCapacity building, Capacity building, community empowermentcommunity empowerment

Good governanceGood governance TransparencyTransparencyAccountabilityAccountability

Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives

Using participants’ experience through Using participants’ experience through case studies, we sought advice, re :case studies, we sought advice, re :

Filter design : concepts, indicators, etcFilter design : concepts, indicators, etc Filter focus and scopeFilter focus and scope Development processDevelopment process

Any other counsel from experienceAny other counsel from experience

Workshop highlightsWorkshop highlights Could the filter be counter productive? Could the filter be counter productive?

Is it yet just another set of guidelines?Is it yet just another set of guidelines?• rather than focused on main purpose of rather than focused on main purpose of

peace buildingpeace building• can it be sensitive to the nuances of different can it be sensitive to the nuances of different

projects?projects?

does it look too much like a checklist - not does it look too much like a checklist - not every project needs to do or cover everythingevery project needs to do or cover everything

Reflections on formatReflections on format

not a stand alone document : needs operational not a stand alone document : needs operational guidelinesguidelines

Variable formats needed according to usersVariable formats needed according to users See the tool as a start for an See the tool as a start for an

exploration/dialogueexploration/dialogue Include a glossaryInclude a glossary

Reflections on contextReflections on context

Framing the questions is crucial! Find out what Framing the questions is crucial! Find out what is acceptable language, is acceptable language, eg. trust, cooperation rather than peace, collaborationeg. trust, cooperation rather than peace, collaboration

ensure cultural sensitivity and conflict ensure cultural sensitivity and conflict sensitivity run all the way through, in addition sensitivity run all the way through, in addition to specific categoriesto specific categories

insure conflict sensitivity assessment has been insure conflict sensitivity assessment has been donedone

How toHow to

Ensure flexibility; be able to seize opportunitiesEnsure flexibility; be able to seize opportunities

Yet maintain rigor and consistency in useYet maintain rigor and consistency in use

Integrate creativity as a vital and effective part Integrate creativity as a vital and effective part of any peace-building endeavor, including the of any peace-building endeavor, including the filterfilter

Further reflectionsFurther reflections

Workshop mixed reflections on filter and on health and Workshop mixed reflections on filter and on health and peace building in generalpeace building in general

• local knowledge needs to be taken seriously without local knowledge needs to be taken seriously without romanticizing itromanticizing it

• benefits and resources need to be sharedbenefits and resources need to be shared

• need to avoid creating new vested interests, thus potentially need to avoid creating new vested interests, thus potentially exacerbating potential toward conflictexacerbating potential toward conflict

• sustainabilitysustainability

Significant challengesSignificant challenges remainremain

Very short timeframe : directly Very short timeframe : directly contradicts expert advicecontradicts expert advice

How to “practice what we preach” How to “practice what we preach”

LongLongandand

windingwinding

road ….road ….

Your turn !Your turn !

Share with us your creativityShare with us your creativity

1.1. How to render the HPBF more creative in form and How to render the HPBF more creative in form and thus perhaps more effective?thus perhaps more effective?

2.2. The consistency / flexibility paradox : can we do The consistency / flexibility paradox : can we do both ?both ?

3.3. If the HPBF is designed for use by donors/program If the HPBF is designed for use by donors/program managers, is it possible for it to also stimulate managers, is it possible for it to also stimulate community participation or be used a range of community participation or be used a range of playersplayers

Merci a tousMerci a tous