Humanitarian-Development- Peace Nexus Approaches

Somali farmer grows watermelons in Puntland

HDP Nexus

Humanitarian-Development Peace Nexus Approaches in Conflict and Disaster Settings

The humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDP nexus, or Triple nexus) approach is a way of working with the populations affected by crisis to reduce their humanitarian needs by addressing key root causes and decreasing risks and vulnerabilities they face.

The HDP nexus strives to enhance the coordination, collaboration and coherence of humanitarian, development and peace actions, particularly in protracted crises and conflict settings.

UNDP has three roles within the HDP nexus:

Acting as a bridge between humanitarian, development and peace actors, to catalyze system-wide coherence on nexus approaches and engagement.

Contributing to ‘ending need’ by scaling up integrated development and peace programming.

Helping to develop financing strategies for nexus approaches, which bring together international, national, public and private finance.

Approaches to peace in the HDP nexus

Activities aimed at sustaining peace adopt different approaches, depending on the context and objectives.

'Big P' interventions directly target political solutions or securitized responses to violent conflict, often supported by a United Nations Security Council mandate. They may involve
peace agreements.

‘Little p’ actions are focused on empowering individuals and transforming social dynamics, building the capacity for peace and for conflict prevention and management within institutions and broader society. This includes building trust and social cohesion.

‘Negative peace’ signifies the absence of direct violence, like a ceasefire.

‘Positive peace’ involves resolving conflicts constructively, restoring positive relationships, and establishing a social system that meets everyone's needs.

Building on the UNDP mandate and partnerships

Adapting coordination frameworks

In TURKEY, LEBANON, JORDAN, IRAQ AND EGYPT, Syrian regional refugee response provided a framework for the UNDP and UNHCR to address humanitarian and development challenges simultaneously, employing a resilience approach.

Adapting coordination frameworks

In LEBANON, ‘post-cluster’ coordination brought broader sectors together to facilitate collaboration not only among humanitarian and development actors, but also with relevant authorities.

In YEMEN, UNDP used the area-based approach to tailor interventions to respond to diverse local needs and contexts.

In SOMALIA, UNDP participated in the multi-stakeholder Water and Flood Task Force, which brought together humanitarian and development actors, including government officials and donors, to develop a flood response roadmap.

Overcoming funding silos

Sudan embedded livelihoods, economic recovery and stabilization components into its humanitarian and peacebuilding programmes. It also revived local development institutions to provide basic service delivery. Through the success of such initiatives, UNDP was able to demonstrate to the donors the need to create an enabling environment for longer-term development linkages.

Localization lens in HDP nexus approach

In SUDAN, UNDP supported Community Management Committees to fill the vacuum left by state institutions in conflict-affected regions. These committees were recognized for their role in settling interpersonal and intergroup disputes through mediation and dialogue. The impact included the resumption of petty trade and transport services and reopening of schools.

Sustainable peace through ‘little p’ actions

In IRAQ and SOMALIA, where low capacity was combined with active conflict and frequent political upheaval, UNDP built police infrastructure, supplied mequipment, and provided training on management, human rights and gender-related issues. Community police stations and family units contributed to enhanced trust and better services for women.

Supporting women’s role in conflict resolution

In SOMALIA, a conflict resolution project was established on the premise that changing social norms requires bringing unconscious thoughts, bias and blind spots to the surface. The project trained women leaders, elders and religious leaders in non- violent conflict resolution. As a result, women increasingly solved dispute cases themselves. Women leaders also observed increased recognition from elders and the wider community.

HDP Nexus