Evaluation of Rwanda’s youth and employment policies

Public policy observatory repor

A Different Approach to the Reincorporation of Ex-Combatants: The Case of PASO Colombia

The process of reincorporation of ex combatants of the former FARC EP guerrilla adopted a collective approach, different from the one applied since 2006 by the Government of Colombia which was mainly individualistic and urban. The new approach however was jeopardized by extreme centralization and bureaucracy, making the finance and execution of productive projects of former combatants slow and in many cases unsuccessful. In this context, PASO Colombia program of the One Earth Future Foundation developed an alternative model of collective reincorporation adaptable to the specific necessities of each territory incorporating to this model of work important social, economic, educational and governance features. This article analyzes this experience and narrates the strategies undertaken in order to assure appropriate adaptation to different scenarios. The article also addresses the main components of the model as well as the outcomes it has generated in terms of creating dialog and conflict resolution spaces where common goals are developed ex coms and communities working together. Finally this experience of collective reincorporation is made available to new peace initiatives underway in Colombia and, hopefully in the world

Mobilizing without Arms: Activist Struggles of Former Guerrillas during Colombia’s Transition to Peace

This research seeks to understand how and to what extent the political and social context in Colombia is allowing FARC (former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) activism after the 2016 peace accords. I conducted interviews and ethnographic observations in 2018 with former guerrillas living in La Fila, a transition zone in Colombia. Drawing from literature on armed guerrilla movements, biographical consequences of activism, and social movement continuity, I show the dilemmas of being unarmed revolutionary people transitioning from living among a collectivity to living in a capitalist society where individuality is valued and demanded. Engaging in civic organizations, gender activism, or political participation, ex-guerrillas are facing challenges related to neoliberal political and economic structures. While their current mobilization is possible thanks to their experiences before and during their time in FARC, and as result of the peace agreements, the right-wing politics of current government and persisting violence are the main threats to activism as a transition path towards peace

Some economic consequences of the transition from civil war to peace

Drawing on evidence from Africa - especially Ethiopia and Uganda - the authors of this volume draw conclusions about economic policy in the aftermath of civil war. A sample of conclusions follows. Civil wars differ from international wars. They are informal, often have no clear beginning and end, weaken rather than strengthen the authority of the state, and leave two unreconciled armies to be demobilized within one territory. Civil wars erode the institutions of civil society, leading to a decline in the stock of social capital, which takes some time to restore. Private investment and government revenue are slow to recover, and military expenditures are not easily reduced. As a result, there is little or no peace dividend in the short run. The period of transition to peace is a particularly suitable time for radical policy reform, despite the high degree of polarization typical in countries engaged in civil war. And speedy reform, far from increasing uncertainty, is likely to reduce it. After a civil war, private agents are fearful both of each other and of the government. This, perhaps even more than physical damage to infrastructure, hinders private-sector-led recovery, as irreversible investment is delayed despite being financeable. The transition to peace is primarily the transition from fear and the defensive responses that became ingrained in wartime. The peace dividend comes as a gradual recovery of confidence induces repatriation of financial and human capital. Such confidence can be boosted by the early sequencing of investment-sensitive policy reforms and by preserving low inflation through direct consumer price index targeting. Lack of confidence can be compensated for by temporary undervaluation of the exchange rate, or however, may prove more difficult to make credibly time-bound. Finally, aid can permit accelerated rehabilitation of the infrastructure (especially transport networks) needed to return to a market economy. Contrary to the studies hypothesis, the authors found that demobilization - at least in Uganda - did not lead to a significant upsurge in insecurity. In the short term, demobilization significantly reduced crime, unless the demobilized lacked access to land. If the demobilized returned to their home areas and were given some assistance, with identifiable exceptions they were able to find income-earning opportunities.Debt Markets,Emerging Markets,Economic Theory&Research,,Investment and Investment Climate

Security, Conflict, and Reintegration in Mozambique: Case Studies of Land Access in the Postwar Period

In October 1992, the Peace Accord was signed in Mozambique. Many positive changes have taken place since then. and the countryside in postwar Mozambique is in a state of intense transformation. Nevertheless, the government has been largely silent on the issue of land tenure reform, while some of the recommendations regarding land-policy reform that have been proposed are simplistic, uninformed, and fail to reflect the present political reality in Mozambique. This report shows the need to initiate a comprehensive discussion on land policy reform, natural resource management, and decentralized control over resources. The discussion must address fundamental questions about what types of land rights will exist or, more specifically, what types of property rights will be permitted; who will have the power to distribute land rights; and how and by whom land disputes will be settled. At the heart of these questions lie profound issues relating to the role and nature of the state and other political institutions, the relationships of these institutions with the citizens, and the form and nature of governance in Mozambique. In this report we will raise several concerns with regard to land that we hope will help policymakers in Mozambique define the parameters of this discussion.Land Economics/Use,

The Role of Cooperatives In Unlocking Potentials of People with Disability: The Case of Tigray War Veterans in Mekelle

This study presents analysis of the role of cooperatives in unlocking the potentials of disabled war veterans. Veterans are indeed interested to join themselves in a genuine synergy under cooperatives to solve their social and economic problems. The ultimate objective of this thesis was to assess and measure the overall role of cooperatives in unlocking potentials of the disabled veteran through cooperatives, and in attaining social and economical empowerment of people with disabilities. To find out the role of cooperatives in attaining sustainable livelihood of the veterans engaged in cooperatives, by the degree of physical, human, social, and financial capital they owned; To examine the role of cooperatives in improving the lifestyle, self image and attitude; To identify the challenges encountered by the disabled members of the cooperatives; To assess the compatibility of the cooperative units (activities) to people with disabilities and to suggest future directions for all-inclusive policy and interventions. Data was collected from primary & secondary sources through structured & unstructured personal interview, discussion and questionnaire; In-depth interview was used with 10 key informants. The researcher investigated the role of cooperatives in attaining sustainable livelihood of members with in-depth interview of 5 cooperative members. The population of the study had comprised 300 war veterans living with disability and are being found engaged in 20 different cooperative unites and therefore the whole population, which is 100% of the participants were target population of the study. The result of the study indicates that cooperatives brought both directly and indirectly a significant physical, psycho-social, and economic rehabilitation among the veteran by unlocking their potential. The compatibility of the cooperative units, the credit facility and infrastructure are found to be the major hindrances to the improvement of productivity of the veterans in cooperatives. More importantly cooperatives; helped the veterans to know more about themselves, that they are productive and have got the potential. The result of the study is presented in a simple table, cross tabulation and bar graph which indicates that cooperatives are the best means ever to unlock the potential of the disabled war veterans and lead them to productivity and independent living economically. Generally it is concluded that cooperatives offered a unique experience for the disabled war veterans to enhance their efforts at empowerment and to decrease their dependence on the state and on their association

FROM CORPS TO CO-OPS: ARE CO-OPERATIVES A VIABLE REINTEGRATION STRATEGY FOR EX-COMBATANTS?

From 1989, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes have played a major role in peace agreements worldwide. The first United Nations peacekeeping mission with a DDR mandate was ONUCA, (Observadores de las Naciones Unidas en Centroamerica) or the United Nations Observer Group in Central America and involved the reintegration of ex-combatants after the conflict had finished. While the disarmament and demobilization phases of the DDR programs are fairly straightforward events, success in the reintegration phase remains a great challenge. In this thesis I argue that paying closer attention to the challenges facing ex-combatants at an individual level can help in improving the success of reintegration. To elaborate on this point, I investigate the challenges faced by ex-military personnel, separating from the military on an individual basis, in their efforts to reintegrate back into civilian life. Through this effort, I aim to bring an individual perspective to post-conflict reintegration, which has typically focused on programmes and processes, rather than considering the experience of the individual ex-combatant. A further aim is to establish whether the co-operative model can help ex-combatants meet these challenges

The investment climate in post-conflict situations

This paper is a policy review of the role of investment climate in post-conflict situations. It summarizes the broad range of ways in which conflict negatively affects the investment climate, from macroeconomic instability to a degraded regulatory framework. It stresses that attention needs to be paid to the broader"enabling environment,"including institutions, governance, capacity, and social capital. It suggests that a vibrant private sector underpinned by a good investment climate is particularly important in the post-conflict recovery phase for three reasons: it generates employment, provides public services where the state has retrenched, and builds social capital. By addressing these important"greed and grievance"factors, the private sector helps reduce the likelihood of a return to conflict. The paper concludes by distilling key lessons relating to the management of the post-conflict reform process. Despite the importance of a good investment climate, greater effort is needed to ensure that private sector development reforms are included in the first round of post-conflict policymaking. Local ownership of reforms and enhanced local capacity to implement them is key to sustainable improvements in the investment climate. Development partners have an important role to play in facilitating dialogue and promoting partnerships between public and private sector stakeholders. At the same time, development partners need to ensure that their presence in fragile post-conflict economies does not damage the very sector they are trying to support.Political Economy,Labor Markets,Trade and Regional Integration,Social Conflict and Violence,Investment and Investment Climate

Job Creation in Postconflict Societies

[From Preface] Too often, the need for job creation projects after serious conflict goes unrecognized and unmet. This paper discusses the main justifications for such projects, both short- and longer-term, and reviews some major lessons learned and best practices to guide their design and implementation. A central focus is the array of issues and challenges that must be worked out to permit a smooth transition from violent conflict and its attendant joblessness to a situation of stable, long-term employment capable of supporting a decent livelihood