Paper details
| Paper authors | Naghmeh Sobhani |
| In panel on | Beyond Integration: Revisiting the Triple Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus in Practice |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
Violent conflict shapes 80 percent of humanitarian operations today, with crises often lasting over nine years. The 2016 twin “Sustaining Peace” resolutions repositioned peacebuilding as a continuous responsibility—before, during, and after crises—placing it alongside humanitarian response and development within the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. Yet siloed funding and reporting still constrain agencies, even as local actors already implement Nexus approaches in practice.
This presentation proposes key shifts to operationalise the peace dimension of the Nexus. First, a mindset shift is needed: rigid sequencing must give way to context-specific collaboration across the pillars. The Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas reinforce this, urging the inclusion of women and youth as central actors in crisis response, recovery, and peacebuilding.
Second, joint conflict-, age-, and gender-sensitive analysis must replace fragmented assessments, uncovering root causes of violence and identifying capacities for peace. Third, programming must become peace-responsive by default, embedding reconciliation, governance, and social cohesion within humanitarian and development efforts.
Finally, financing and coordination mechanisms must align around collective outcomes and be co-led with local stakeholders. With trust-building, flexibility, prevention, and local ownership as cross-cutting enablers, the Nexus can move from rhetoric to real impact—reducing grievances, strengthening institutions and community resilience.
