Briefing Paper

Getting Coherence and Coordination Right: Principles for the Peacebuilding Policy Community

“This Policy & Practice Brief (PPB) seeks to establish a common understanding of the term ‘coherence’ which is specific to peacebuilding dynamics by unpacking its meaning within peacebuilding experiences. Secondly, this PPB will examine the various challenges hampering achievement of coherence and coordination. It aims to examine whether greater coherence and coordination is necessarily the answer to ensure the achievement of more effective and sustainable peacebuilding initiatives. Finally, this paper provides some recommended principles that should characterise peacebuilding interventions as a way to support local and international actors in developing coherent, effective and sustainable peacebuilding efforts. All this is based on the outcomes of a seminar hosted by the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) with the theme ‘Towards a more coherent peacebuilding policy community’ in Johannesburg, South Africa on 19 and 20 February 2014.”