Rethinking the transition process in Syria: constitution, participation and gender equality

A just and sustainable peace for Syria can only be attained through the equal participation of women\u2019s rights defenders at the negotiation table and throughout the transitional process. Understanding the legal framework within which such participation takes place \u2013 and the challenges of promoting women\u2019s rights through a gender-responsive constitution \u2013 is crucial. This publication, resulting from a collaboration between Euromed Feminist Initiative and the University of Padova, builds on the knowledge of academics and advocates, shedding new insights on those challenges. It aims at supporting institutional efforts being made to guarantee women\u2019s participation in the Syrian reconstruction, as well as advocacy initiatives carried out to ensure women\u2019s participation in political and economic decision-making in the country\u2019s future

Conflict Prevention through Post Conflict Housing Reconstruction: Good Practices and Lessons Learned

The concept of ‘DRR’ within natural and technological disasters context conform to the concept of ‘conflict prevention and peace building’ within conflicts or wars context. Similar to DRR measures within disaster context, it is important to study conflict prevention measures within conflicts or wars. This paper presents such measures within post conflict housing reconstruction. Literature identifies a number of implications of post conflict housing reconstruction contributes on development and peace building including economic development and poverty alleviation, gender equity and empowerment, integrating displaced communities, restoring security, trust and faith in future and legitimacy. An empirical study conducted in post conflict Sri Lanka identified the good practices and lessons learned in preventing conflicts and building peace within post conflict housing reconstruction. Study involved 37 in-depth interviews with policy makers, practitioners, beneficiaries and academics. The approach to reconstruction of housing in the original places over relocation and traditional construction over pre-fabricated housing enhanced beneficiary satisfaction and occupancy. Low income and vulnerable people were prioritised in accessing housing assistance while beneficiaries’ livelihoods were enhanced though livelihood support packages and construction craftsmen training. These as well as the involvement of local labour and material developed the local economy. Furthermore, local construction materials and local labour involvement in housing reconstruction enhanced the community linkages. Participatory approach to construction promoted a sense of ownership towards housing while reducing the cost of construction. Nevertheless, low income families faced with difficulties in completing the construction, which hindered privacy and security. Also, female head households faced difficulties in contributing unskilled labour and constructing a habitable house with the grant provided. Therefore, suggestions were made to tailor the financial grant based on the special requirements of vulnerable families such as female head households

Gender, Violence and Peace: A Post-2015 Development Agenda

Gender has increasingly become a part of the international peace and security agenda, particularly since the passage of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security. Yet little attention has been given to examining how the resources and political will generated by the post-2015 framework could help move this agenda forward.In this paper, Saferworld and Conciliation Resources set out a vision for including gender, peace and security in the post-2015 framework. A gender, peace and security approach to post-2015 includes, but also goes beyond a focus on women's empowerment. Inter alia, it means paying attention to the relationships between gender, violence and inclusive decision-making. Building on our previous recommendations for including peacebuilding commitments in the post-2015 development agenda, we suggest targets and indicators that illustrate how gender, peace and security can best be integrated into the framework

The political economy of education systems in conflict-affected contexts

This report is a rigorous literature review on the political economy of education systems in conflict-affected contexts and is aimed at education advisers and agencies, development practitioners and Ministry of Education policy makers working in conflict-affected contexts. The report seeks to provide theoretically informed and policy relevant insights on the global, national and local governance of education systems in conflict-affected contexts garnered from a rigorous review of the academic and policy literature on the political economy of education in conflict-affected contexts. The review was driven by three main questions: (1) What are the underpinning assumptions of the main bodies of political economy research in education and conflict? (2) What can the political economy of education literature since 1990 inform us about educational change and reform in conflict-affected contexts? (3) What are the strengths, weaknesses, blind spots and research gaps in the political economy of education literature exploring the governance of educational change and reform in conflict-affected contexts? Chapter 1 outlines the rationale and aims of the review. Chapter 2, describes the theoretical and conceptual framework and presents the framing of the key issues under review, and Chapter 3 outlines the review methodology. Chapter 4 presents the main characteristics and an assessment of the quality of the studies selected for the in-depth review, and Chapter 5, discusses the review’s main findings. Chapter 6 presents the conclusions of the study, outlines a theory of change that emerges from the findings and draws out the policy insights and research gaps for future study