Recovering from conflict: What matters for livelihoods, economic activity and growth?

Abstract

The socio-economic impacts of war and large-scale violence are often devastating, multiple and wide-ranging, and it is with clear justi!cation that violent con ict has come to be identi!ed over the years as a major barrier to development. Yet, despite increased interest in con ict-a ected situations – or, to use the more common (and more contested) terminology, ‘fragile states’ – our understanding of the realities of, and the processes occurring within, such places remains limited. Researchers and policymakers continue to struggle to make sense of the heterogeneity of the impact of war – for example, among di erent population groups or over time – and basic questions regarding the e ectiveness of recovery policies remain. This is of particular concern given the recent escalation in bilateral funding to states a ected by con ict.