The recent surge in armed conflicts and natural disasters in Africa has adversely impacted the lives and livelihoods of millions. The ongoing conflict in Sudan, the recent conflict in Ethiopia, and the political instability and escalating conflict in the Sahel are examples of such crises displacing millions and devastating livelihoods. Amidst competing global crises, the demand for humanitarian and social assistance in Africa is increasing. However, humanitarian organizations and governments in these fragile settings continue to face resource constraints due to competing priorities and the challenges of implementing programs in these contexts.
Identifying cost-effective and sustainable programming that can be feasibly implemented in these fragile settings is crucial to protect and support households and livelihoods affected by conflict. This requires compelling empirical evidence to ascertain the economic, social, and psychological effects of armed conflicts to guide potential interventions that promote and sustain recovery. Empirical and analytical evidence is essential to support policy priorities, including evidence that helps identify cost-effective and sustainable investments in various sectors and how the context shapes feasible interventions.
Objectives
This session will feature presentations of new empirical work that aims to inform policy priorities and investment options for rehabilitating and rebuilding communities affected by conflict and other forms of shocks in Africa. We aim to share relevant emerging lessons and research findings conducted by CGIAR and its partners, focusing on alternative programming, targeting, and delivery of social assistance programs in fragile settings.
List of Papers Included in the Session
- Targeting Social Assistance in Fragile Settings: An Experiment on Community-Based Targeting
- Authors: Kibrom Abay, Guush Berhane, Daniel Gilligan, Kibrom Tafere, and Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse
- Summary: This paper explores the effectiveness of community-based targeting for social assistance programs in fragile settings, based on empirical evidence from recent experiments.
- Impact of Ongoing Conflict and Pathways to Recovery in Sudan (2023-2028)
- Authors: Khalid Siddig, James Thurlow, Mosab Ahmed, Josée Randriamamonjy, Mariam Raouf
- Summary: This study examines the socioeconomic impacts of the ongoing conflict in Sudan and proposes pathways to recovery over the next five years.
- Unlocking Locally-Led Anticipatory Action: How Local Context Shapes Aid Preferences Among Community Leaders in Mali
- Author: Jordan Kyle
- Summary: This paper investigates how local context influences the preferences of community leaders for aid interventions, emphasizing the importance of locally-led anticipatory action in Mali.
- Cash Transfers, Conflict, and Mental Health: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Ethiopia
- Authors: Halefom Nigus and others
- Summary: This research presents evidence from a randomized experiment on the impact of cash transfers on mental health outcomes in conflict-affected regions of Ethiopia.
Discussants
- Agnes Quisumbing
- Position: Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Ibrahim Elbadawi
- Position: Managing Director, Economic Research Forum