NCG partner Anne-Lise Klausen together with Dr. Thania Paffenholz, IPTI Director, recently published an article that reflects upon the future for the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS) in the Framework of the Sustaining Peace Agenda. The authors pose the questions of whether or not the Dialogue can move beyond a New-Deal-centric frame of reference and rediscover its impetus in the context of the Sustaining Peace Agenda. Read their take on the role of the Dialogue in a changing international context here. 

The IDPS was launched in 2008 with the aim of defining a new framework for engaging with countries affected by fragility and conflict, and was a key player in the formulation and adoption of the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States in 2011 in Busan. The Dialogue is an inclusive partnership between g7+ member states, civil society, and donors. It has proved instrumental in promoting the nexus between peace and development, and has championed nationally owned multi-stakeholder approaches to inclusive peace and state-building embedded in the New Deal. The IDPS constructively incorporated civil society into its structure, and advocated for peace to be included in SDG 16 of the 2030 Agenda—a lasting achievement. Through the piloting of the New Deal framework, the Dialogue has also played an important role for example in Timor Leste and Somalia, as well as in the Mano River countries in the wake of the Ebola outbreak. 

Nordic Consulting Group has been assigned to formulate the third phase of the Danida Peace and Stabilisation Programme for the Horn of Africa 2018-2022. The objective of the Programme is to “contribute to peace and stability in the region and pave the way for the Governments together with other stakeholders and international development partners to engage”. The Programme will consist of the  following three thematic areas: 

  1. Strengthen stabilisation and security actors engaged in Somalia and regional conflict management capacity
  2. Counter violent extremism through prevention and disengagement
  3. Promote exercise of authority across regional land and maritime borders

The main objective of the assignment is to assist the Embassy in Nairobi, in close dialogue with the Ministry of Defence and the Embassy in Addis to formulate a draft programme document, for a new Danish Peace and Stabilisation Programme for the Horn of Africa 2018-2022.

The draft Programme document will follow the guidelines for the Peace and Stabilisation Fund, including human rights-based approaches (HRBA) and gender aspects.  

NCG Partner Anton Baaré will lead a team of three consultants to conduct the formulation. 

A Public Financial Management Handbook for Members of Parliament and Staff was launched by the Speaker of Parliament in Zambia on 1st November 2017. The Handbook is developed by NCG partner Ole Kragh.

The Handbook was developed under the auspices of the European Union project with the purpose of providing a toolkit for the strengthening of the National Assembly of Zambia in the performance of its mandate in public financial management. The book provides a comprehensive introduction to the concept, objectives and scope of public financial management and serves as a reference and self-training manual for Members of Parliament and Staff of the National Assembly of Zambia on issues relevant to their functions. 

Find the Public Financial Management Handbook here.

In collaboration with ActionAid, Nordic Consulting Group arranged a seminar on Masculinity in the Middle East on Friday 13 October at Café Mellemrummet in Copenhagen.

The purpose of the seminar was to present the results and findings of a survey on men and masculinity in the Middle East, which research confronts many of the stereotypes commonly associated with men in the region and highlights pathways to gender equality. The survey has explored the realities, practices, and attitudes of men in Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, and Palestine regarding gender norms, gender-equality policies, household dynamics, caregiving and fatherhood, intimate partner violence, sexual diversity, health, and economic stress. 

The survey was part of The International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), which is the largest multi-country study of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa. The results of the survey were presented by the authors Gary Baker (CEO of PROMUNDO) and Sheeren El Feki. The subsequent panel debate consisted of representatives from KVINFO and Danish Refugee Council.  

NCG Partner Anne-Lise Klausen welcomed the large gathering of attendants to the seminar by underlining the importance of evidence-based knowledge in a contemporary world where one perception is often considered the truth.

Find the complete IMAGES MENA report here.

NCG has recently been assigned by Danida to assist in the programming of the second phase of the European Regional Development and Protection Programme for the Middle East (RDPP). This assignment consists of two consecutive processes: A consultation phase and a programme formulation phase.

The primary role of NCG partner Anne-Lise Klausen and two external consultants will be to undertake the drafting of a programme document for the second phase of the RDPP (2018-2021). The programme document will be based on extensive stakeholder consultations at all levels and a comprehensive context analysis considering the trends and context for protection, livelihood, advocacy, political dialogue and research in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. Thus, the programming phase consists of both deskwork as well as fieldtrips to Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq and consultants and dialogue with units and focal points at the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Programme Management Unit of the RDPP.

Fore more details about the assignment, please click here