The end of armed violence in a country or region might open up new possibilities for development work, but just because a peace treaty has been signed or a settlement has been negotiated doesn’t necessarily mean an easy time for development organizations operating in these areas.
The term “post-conflict” is used to describe an emergence from conflict and signifies a shift to a recovery phase. This important phase represents a window for the international development community to boost assistance to the most vulnerable and affected communities, help restore critical institutions, and foster a functioning civil society.
While aid and development workers might enjoy more access and acceptance after a peace agreement has been reached, they are still forced to cope with significant operational constraints which rival those faced by humanitarians operating in the midst of conflict hotspots.