SUMERNET 4 All: Conflict Sensitivity Guidelines
These guidelines provide a practical framework for integrating conflict sensitivity into SUMERNET research. Using the Do No Harm approach, they help researchers understand conflict contexts, assess how research interventions interact with communities and stakeholders, and adapt research planning and implementation to avoid negative impacts and maximize positive outcomes.
There is a two-way relationship between research and conflict. As researchers, we are not only adversely affected by conflicts, but inevitably also affect the dynamics of conflict where we conduct our research. Ideally the effect will be positive: researchers will contribute to knowledge and development. However, in some cases, our research interventions may increase the risk of violent conflict.
This conflict sensitivity guidelines document is a tool for researchers to enhance the quality of our research network. Conflict sensitivity refers to the ability to
1) Understand the context in which research is operating, particularly the dynamics of relationships between people and groups in the research context.
2) Understand the interactions between research interventions and their contexts. This mean focusing on not only the outcome of research interventions, but also the entire research process.
3) Act upon the understanding of these interactions through planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating your intervention in a conflict-sensitive fashion to avoid negative impacts and maximize positive impacts.
There is a two-way relationship between research and conflict. As researchers, we are not only adversely affected by conflicts, but inevitably also affect the dynamics of conflict where we conduct our research. Ideally the effect will be positive: researchers will contribute to knowledge and development. However, in some cases, our research interventions may increase the risk of violent conflict.
This conflict sensitivity guidelines document is a tool for researchers to enhance the quality of our research network. Conflict sensitivity refers to the ability to
1) Understand the context in which research is operating, particularly the dynamics of relationships between people and groups in the research context.
2) Understand the interactions between research interventions and their contexts. This mean focusing on not only the outcome of research interventions, but also the entire research process.
3) Act upon the understanding of these interactions through planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating your intervention in a conflict-sensitive fashion to avoid negative impacts and maximize positive impacts.
