In fragile situations, which interventions strengthen intergroup social cohesion?

Background

In 2016, 1.8 billion people – nearly a quarter of the world's population – were living in situations of fragility. Social cohesion is widely considered important in building sustainable peace in fragile contexts. In many contexts, multidimensional threats to human security exacerbate tensions across social cleavages. The literature suggests that higher levels of trust, a shared sense of belonging and acceptance of diversity, and norms around community help and participation – key components of social cohesion – can create mechanisms to mediate or manage potential conflicts between groups across social cleavages. But what is the empirical evidence to support this theory? What strategies are most effective in which contexts? Policymakers and programmers have developed a range of interventions that seek to promote sustainable peace in fragile contexts by fostering intergroup social cohesion.

This new mixed-methods 3ie systematic review examined the evidence from 36 impact evaluations based on 24 studies to understand which strategies are effective for which populations in which contexts. The reviewers collected quantitative and qualitative data from the included studies and used statistical meta-analysis and realist-informed framework synthesis to analyse the findings. Ada Sonnenfeld, lead author of the review, presented the key findings and implications for policy and programmes.

Download Ada’s presentation on the systematic review here.

Watch webinar

About Speakers

Ada Sonnenfeld, Evaluation Specialist, 3ie
Ada is an Evaluation Specialist at 3ie, where she leads evidence synthesis projects, including systematic reviews and evidence gap maps, specialising in the fields of governance, peacebuilding and rural development. She has nine years’ experience in international development across diverse contexts including Afghanistan, Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, South Africa, UK and US. Ada holds a Master of Science with distinction in Impact Evaluation for International Development from the University of East Anglia, UK and a Bachelor of Arts in Honours International Development, with a specialisation in States and Governance, from McGill University, Canada.

Tog Gang, National Programme Manager, Search for Common Ground
Tog Gang is a peacebuilding specialist who has spent the past 10 years reaching out to marginalized and conflict-affected communities across Nigeria, with interventions that promote inclusiveness and fairness in protracted crises. Tog has been involved in the design and implementation of a series of successful strategic assistance projects in complex ethnopolitical conflicts in Northern Nigeria. Tog also specializes in providing support to local communities through mediation, negotiation, and advocacy.

Alexander Corlath, Sector Programme for Transitional Development Assistance, GIZ
Alexander Corlath studied applied Psychology and International Development in Vienna and specialized on holistic approaches and the integration of psychological components in design, monitoring and evaluation of peace interventions. Currently he is working for the German Organisation for International cooperation (GIZ) where he advises in the application of Behavioural Insights for the sector programme Transitional Development Assistance with a focus on peace, inclusive societies and social cohesion.

Patricia Justino, Senior Research Fellow, UNU-WIDER
Professor Patricia Justino is a development economist who works at the interface between Development Economics and Political Science. She is a leading expert on political violence and development, and the co-founder and co-director of the Households in Conflict Network. She is currently a Senior Research Fellow at UNU-WIDER and Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in Brighton, UK (on leave).

Shannon Shisler, Senior Evaluation Specialist, 3ie (chair)
Shannon supports the production of systematic reviews and provides quality assurance for the data related to such projects. She has nearly two decades of experience in maternal and child health research, particularly in the context of addiction in low-income families. As an educational psychologist, she has studied pathways from prenatal substance exposure to violence in adolescence, and is an expert in quantitative methodologies, including meta-analysis.  Prior to joining 3ie, she spent 17 years with the Research Institute on Addictions managing large federal grants from the US National Institutes of Health, and has taught for both the University at Buffalo and Buffalo State College.
 
Shannon holds a Master of Arts and PhD in Educational Psychology and Quantitative Methods, a Certificate in Applied Statistical Analysis, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University at Buffalo.