Sustainable development strategies in post-conflict countries

Over the past few years, the United Nations has compiled its experiences and best practices in developing national sustainability strategies in the form of methodical guidelines, and has made them available to national governments as an orientation aid.

However, experience has shown that post-conflict countries are faced with particular challenges when developing strategies of this kind. These countries are often deeply divided by the after-effects of violent conflicts, their infrastructure is destroyed or neglected, and state capacities are either non-existent or underdeveloped.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) thus commissioned adelphi to develop new relevant guidelines to improve the situation in post-conflict states. Indeed, it is precisely in these countries that national sustainability strategies can push forward significant developments: through extensive management processes that enable a transition from conflict management and rebuilding to development planning, on the one hand; and as an instrument to help establish peace and build bridges in divided societies through cooperation and participation, as well as attempting to remove the causes of conflicts, on the other hand.