Conflict Analysis Definition

Conflict Analysis informs peacebuilding and development work. It’s often skipped due to: priorities/ funding, unconducive environment, ignorance of its importance among others. .

Conflict Analysis is the process of examining the data that is collected within and without the confines of a conflict in a bid to understand the extent and the form(s) of that conflict.

This process should be based off reliable data from the relevant actors and stakeholders if the analysis is to deduce a realistic picture of the conflict.

In an ideal situation, peacebuilding intervention strategies for conflicts should be informed by the conflict analysis.

Why is Conflict Analysis Important?

Please read further below.

In Summary: Conflict Analysis is important not only to inform peacebuilding interventions but also for Conflict Sensitivity.

Conflict Sensitivity refers to the measures that are taken to ensure that peace interventions are conscious of the conflict variables which, if mishandled, might cause more harm than good to the peacebuilders / development, the community or other stakeholders in the peace field.

Read more about Conflict Sensitivity and the Tools that you can use here.

What Variables Does Conflict Analysis Look At

Conflicts, especially conflicts, have multiple variables that make the solving of such conflicts complex. These variables also take different forms at different forms, which is why peacebuilding efforts may not work in an instant.

Effective peace building efforts should seek to understand the conflict variables (see the list below) in order to come up with intervention strategies that have maximum positive impact and minimal probabilities of fueling the conflict further.

• Conflict/ polarizing issues
• Actors: Use Actors Mapping Tool to visualize and analyze the conflict actors or other stakeholders
  
• Stakeholders: Other professionals working in the peace field, especially in the conflict environment at hand
• Relationships between the actors
• Relationships between stakeholders
• External Dynamics
• Time/ History

To skip Conflict Analysis and Dive into REAL Peacebuilding or Not?

In my opinion Conflict Analysis is an important process for any intervention.

HOWEVER, the intensity and formality of the process should be left at the discretion of the involved parties/ peacebuilding organization/ project managers.

NOTE: Conflict Sensitivity during Conflict Analysis

During this Conflict Analysis process (however simple or intense it is), the peacebuilder/ development worker/ program manager should think ahead and put necessary measures to avoid escalating the conflicts further.

Data collection for Conflict Analysis:

For instance, if talking to some actors and or stakeholders (during the data collection phase) in a secluded place causes tension between those actors and the rest of the community, then such discrete talks should be rethought.

Information Sharing after Conflict Analysis

Another thing to consider is how, where, and with whom the results of this analysis are shared.

Two Common Types of Conflict Analysis

Official/ Intense Conflict Analysis

Some peace projects/ development workers may choose an official and intense Conflict Analysis process to inform their next course of actions, This may include getting a Peace and Conflict Consultant to spearhead the process, investing a significant budget to collect and process data from diverse sources, and holding a results’ validation exercise where different actors/ stakeholders are informed of the results.

Unofficial/ Casual Conflict Analysis

Other peace projects may choose to use an unofficial approach that may include casual chats with different actors/ stakeholders

5 Reasons Why Conflict Analysis is Important for any Project/ Intervention

• It informs the best inclusive intervention/ peacebuilding practices that have maximum positive impact
• It informs the best peacebuilding/ intervention practices that will cause minimal harm to the community
• It informs practices that keep the peace worker/ development worker safe
• Informs projects that have a higher probability for sustainable
• It informs the exact input (social structures – people’s capacities, resources, etc.  ) that will build toward reduced violence and peace

3 Main Reasons Why Some Development Workers/ Peace Projects Skip Conflict Analysis

• Lack of the awareness of how important Conflict Analysis is to their project
• Budgetary constraints and different priorities: Some peace projects’ priorities and budgets plan for the ‘seemingly’ important activities of a project and exclude Conflict Analysis
• Initial harsh environment that does not allow for a safe/ unbiased analysis

Conflict Analysis Tools

Below as some of the tools that you can use to conduct a conflict analysis. Some tools are specific for processing/ analyzing specific variables, whereas other tools can analyze multiple conflict variables at a go.

Click on each tool for more information. If I have not updated the information for each tool, please check back later

1. Actors Mapping
2. Conflict Tree
3. The Hand
4. Onion
5. Timeline
6. Inverted Triangle
7. Violence Triangle
8. Positions, Interests, Needs and Fears (PINF)
9. Systemic Analysis/ Charting Conflict Systems/ Reinforcing Loop

Kindly submit any feedback in the comments sections below.