1. Do No Harm (DNH) Tool: 101
Felicia Genet
9/26/2013

2. “ Do No Harm” Tool Authority: The Do No Harm Handbook ( The Framework for Analyzing the Impact of Assistance on Conflict, Collaborative Development Action Inc,CDA
Learning Objectives:
History
DNA Approach
Framework
Understanding the Context of Conflict
Analyzing Dividers and Tensions
Analyzing Connectors and Local Capacities for Peace
Analyzing the Assistance Program
Analyzing the Assistance Program’s Impact on Dividers and Connectors
Resource Transfers and Implicit Ethical Messages
6. Considering Program Options
Test Program Options and Redesign
Exercise
Resources

3. History of DNH Post Cold War Era Launched in early1990s –
organized by the Local Capacities for Peace Project (now, CDA) – relationship of assistance in conflict settings
Based on gathering and comparing experiences from the field .

4. History of DNH, continued
Assistance itself does not cause nor end conflict.
Fundamental question: “How can we provide assistance without exacerbating tensions or conflict?”
Context, helps us get a handle on the complexity of the conflict environments where we work. .

5. DNH Approach Gathering the facts Analyzing the facts
Programming Alternatives

6. Framework: 7 Steps, a tool for mapping
Step 1: Understanding the Context of Conflict
Identifying which conflicts are dangerous in terms of violence.
Step 2: Analyzing Dividers and Tensions
What divides groups and causes tensions? Ex. Historical Injustice (root cause) , Manipulations by a leader(proximate cause)
Step 3: Analyzing Connectors and Local Capacities for Peace (LCPs)
Divided by conflict, connected across sub-group lines. Ex. Markets, Events Shared attitudes.
Peacemakers. Ex. Elders, Teachers or religious leaders.
Step 4: Analyzing the Assistance Program
Thorough Review of all aspects of assistance. Ex Where, why, who, etc.
Step 5: Analyzing the Assistance Program’s Impact on Dividers and Connectors
Who gains who loses? Do they overlap with the dividers? Are we missing or reinforcing connectors?
Step 6: Considering Program Options
Instigates, eliminate negative aspects. Overlooked peace makers, reprogram to support peace opportunities.
Step 7: Test Program Options and Redesign
Re-check impact

7. Example: Distributional Effects
Step 5: Analyzing the Assistance Program’s Impact on Dividers and Connectors: Resource Transfers
Direct impact of assistance happens when resources are introduced into conflict settings
Example: Distributional Effects
When assistance is targeted to some groups and not others, these groups (or even partially) overlap with the
divisions represented in the conflict, assistance can reinforce and exacerbate conflict.
Assistance can also reinforce connectors by crossing and linking groups by the way it is distributed

8. Refers to our actions and attitudes in the conflict setting.
Step 5: Analyzing the Assistance Program’s Impact on Dividers and Connectors: Implicit Ethical Messages
Refers to our actions and attitudes in the conflict setting.
Example: Different Values for Different Lives
When agencies or their staff adopt different policies for different groups, suggesting some lives are more valuable than others, they present a message that instigates division and conflict. .

9. Gender
Determine how gender roles and/or sex roles have in these interactions.
Sex Roles corresponds to biological roles
of men and women.
Gender Roles correspond to a set
of social and behavioral norms that are
generally considered ‘appropriate’ for either
a man or a woman.
Determine how gender roles affect Dividers
And Connectors.

10. Gender Example: Connectors
Muslim and Christian women in Liberia, documentary “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”.
Dividers
Neighborhood credit group representing only one side of the conflict, using funds to rebuild those who ‘suffered the most’ representing only one side.

11. Example: The River What are the connectors and the dividers?
Connectors: What is it that binds the two groups?
Dividers: What is the source of tension?
What can you as an aid worker do to reinforce the connectors and diminish the source/s of division?
What are our program options?
Develop water points?
Negotiate specific and agreed access to corridors?
What would be the best option from a DNH perspective?
Does the option exacerbate intergroup dividers?
Does the options support connectors that bring people together?

12. Resources
Anderson, Mary. B. (ed.), Options for Aid in Conflict: Lessons From Field Experience, Cambridge: CDA Inc., It is a lessons-learned manual, written by aid workers in conflict areas. “Drawing on field experience, it is meant to help the field staff of international aid agencies to understand their working contexts better and to develop programming approaches that support peace rather than war”.
CDA website has a specific area on Do No Harm, at
Do No Harm Handbook

13. Questions

14. Felicia Genet fgenet@usaid.gov
Contact
Felicia Genet