Human Development Report 2016

Successful programmes
in disarmament,
demobilization and
reintegration must
recognize that
ex- combatants are a
heterogeneous group
and often include
child soldiers, so a
targeted, phased
approach is needed
Maintaining human well-being
in postconflict situations
Many societies, especially those with low human
development, face great difficulty in achieving
progress in well-being because they are in the
grips of violent conflict or its aftermath. Human
development policies in such situations must
include both political and economic measures.
On the political front a three-pronged approach
to transforming institutions is needed
during postconflict relief, recovery and reconstruction.
First is to ensure people’s security.
This needs to be done through citizen protection
and community policing, including the
vetting and redeployment of security forces
accountable to the public. The need to immediately
deploy an effective police force — national
or international — trained in dealing with violence
against women is urgent.
Second is to pursue faster caseload processing
to ensure social accountability, especially in
delivering humanitarian relief and establishing
the groundwork for future powersharing.
Third is to reintegrate ex- combatants.
Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration
of ex- combatants are early steps in the
transition from war to peace. Disarmament
and demobilization require security, the
inclusion of all warring parties, political
agreement, a comprehensive approach and
sufficient resources. Reintegration focuses on
reinsertion, addressing the economic needs of
ex- combatants and economic reintegration.
Successful programmes in disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration must recognize
that ex- combatants are a heterogeneous
group and often include child soldiers, so a
targeted, phased approach is needed.
On the economic front, the following policy
interventions are necessary:
• Reviving basic social services. This has social
and political benefits, and positive results can
be achieved even in the direst situations (box
4.15). Communities, nongovernmental organizations
and public–private partnerships
can be good catalysts in such situations.
• Supporting work in the health system to cover
many goals. In many conflict-afflicted countries
the health system has collapsed, converting
health services into a life- threatening
challenge for helpers and the wounded.
International aid becomes indispensable in
this setting, but local volunteers can contribute
substantially to providing crucial health
services and saving lives.
• Initiating public works programmes.
Emergency temporary jobs and cash for work
can provide much-needed livelihoods and
contribute to the building of critical physical
and social infrastructure.
• Formulating and implementing targeted community-based
programmes — for example by
continuing to use makeshift schools so that children
do not lose access to education. Through
such initiatives, the capabilities of future
generations can be maintained. Economic
activities can be jumpstarted by reconnecting
people, reconstructing networks and helping
restore the social fabric.
BOX 4.15
Success in reducing maternal and child mortality in Afghanistan
After the collapse of the Taliban in 2002, Afghanistan
adopted a new development path and, with the help
of donors, invested billions of dollars in rebuilding the
country’s economy and health systems. These investments
have improved maternal and child health and
reduced maternal and under-five mortality.
The 2010 Afghanistan Mortality Survey estimated
that there were 327 maternal deaths per 100,000 live
births and 97 deaths among children under age 5 per
1,000 live births.
Decreases in the maternal mortality ratio and the
under-five mortality rate are consistent with changes
in key determinants of mortality, including higher age
at marriage, greater contraceptive use, lower fertility,
better immunization coverage, improvements in
the share of women delivering in health facilities,
more widespread antenatal and postnatal care,
greater involvement of community health workers
and increased access to the basic package of health
services.
Source: Rasooly and others 2014.
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