Peacebuilding

Building Peaceful Societies evidence gap map

Drawing on the analysis of 275 studies, the Building Peaceful Societies evidence gap map identifies where evidence exists for use in programme design, and where the gaps are for future research to address. The map updates and expands on the framework used in 3ie’s 2015 Peacebuilding map to highlight the changing approaches to building peace and resilience and continuing evidence gaps. 3ie developed the map in collaboration with the German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval) with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

View map | Read report | Read brief

Read blog: Securing and building peaceful societies: Where is the evidence, and where is it missing?
Webinar: What do we know about interventions for building peaceful societies? What don't we know?

Strengthening intergroup social cohesion in fragile situations: a systematic review

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. With support from BMZ and the German Organisation for International Cooperation (GIZ), this new mixed-methods 3ie systematic review examined the evidence from 36 impact evaluations based on 24 studies to understand which strategies to strengthen intergroup social cohesion 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.

Read report | Read brief

Download a presentation on the systematic review here.
Read the SR brief: In fragile situations, which interventions strengthen intergroup social cohesion?
Read the blog: Peacebuilding programs are stronger when informed by evidence, despite the constraints of their environments
3ie Evidence dialogue: Use of evidence in peacebuilding and transitional development assistance.

Strengthening women’s empowerment and gender equality in fragile contexts

This 3ie systematic review, also supported by the BMZ, focuses on identifying approaches that can improve women’s status in fragile and conflict-affected settings. It responds to the evidence gap identified in the Building Peaceful Societies evidence gap map by assessing the effects of a broad range of interventions that may facilitate the role of women in sustaining peace and resilience in contexts of fragility. Interventions could relate to preventing conflict or promoting health, education, livelihoods, social protection, participation, relief or recovery. The primary outcome of interest for the review is women's empowerment and gender equality that will then contribute to achieving the secondary outcome of peaceful and inclusive societies.

Download a presentation on the systematic review here.

Read SR report
Read the SR Protocol
Read blog What works to empower women in fragile settings?
Read blog Why we need qualitative evidence in systematic reviews: the case of the Gender SR
Read the blog: A systematic approach to building the evidence base for gender equality and women’s empowerment in fragile contexts

For more information, please write to elwamba@3ieimpact.org.

Generating and disseminating evaluation evidence with the UN Peacebuilding Fund

To generate new evidence on peacebuilding and encourage more evidence-informed decision-making in the field, 3ie and the International Security and Development Center have launched a new evidence program focused on the work of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. The Peacebuilding Fund Impact Evaluation, Learning and Dissemination: Phase 1 (PeaceFIELD1) program is organized around three pillars: 1) capacity development, 2) impact evaluations, and 3) policymaker engagement.

First, the program works to develop evaluation capacity among United Nations Peacebuilding Fund stakeholders, partners, and staff. Second, three impact evaluations of UN Peacebuilding Fund interventions will provide new evidence and insights into which peacebuilding approaches are effective. Third, the program aims to encourage evidence-informed decision-making within the peacebuilding community via targeted policymaker engagement and dissemination of research findings. This program is funded and supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.