Conflict sensitivity

I offer extensive experience in conflict sensitivity and related approaches including tool development, training and capacity building, pre-assessment and evaluation of projects, and integrating conflict sensitive approaches into programmes and country strategies. From 2008-2010, I led one of the first conflict sensitivity evaluations of an EU country programme, looking at the EU’s Sri Lanka strategy and programmes of 16 partners over 2 years. I have since provided conflict sensitivity evaluations and trainings at strategic and project level to a wide range of aid agencies and governments including Oxfam, PACT, the EU, the Netherlands and Sweden. As a Conflict Adviser and then Head of Policy at Saferworld, I also managed and built up Saferworld's portfolio of advisory work on conflict sensitivity, including helpdesks for the UK and Sweden, in-country conflict sensitivity platforms and consultancy/training services for other actors.

Expertise and experience:

  • Member of the UK Government’s Civilian Stabilisation Group roster as a Conflict Prevention expert

  • Provided strategic and operational advice to the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency in response to requests to the Saferworld, Bradford University and Stockholm Policy Group helpdesks on peace, human rights, rule of law and conflict sensitivity, including authoring a number of written reports from 2010 onwards

  • Attree L, Street J & Venchiarutti La, ‘UN peace operations in complex environments: charting the right course,’ Saferworld (2018)

  • Member of the International Development Taskforce advising the UK Shadow Development Secretary on Labour’s 2018 green paper: ‘A World for the Many Not the Few: the Labour Party’s Vision for International Development,’ (Labour, 2018)

  • Article: ‘Five challenges the UN’s “sustaining peace” agenda needs to address,’ (Saferworld, 2018)

  • Advisory inputs provided into Thematic Overview by Sida: 'Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) through development,' (Sida, 2017)

  • From 2010-2015, led Saferworld's research and advocacy efforts to ensure development focused more on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, including successfully advocating for inclusion of SDG16+ commitments to peace, justice and governance in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, influencing the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States and the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation and a number of direct impacts on the policies of national governments, political parties, NGOs and international agencies

  • Developed the feasibility study for a UK-funded conflict and governance mapping system for donors and aid agencies working in Somalia

  • Provided evaluation of and training on conflict sensitivity at strategic and project level to aid agencies and governments (including Oxfam, EC, PACT, Netherlands & Sweden)

  • Report with Ivan Campbell & Hashitha Abeywardana: ‘Conflict-Sensitivity Assessment of EU programmes in Sri Lanka: Best practices and recommendations for project partners,’ (Saferworld/EU, October 2010)

  • Report with S Keethaponcalan, ‘“The Practice of Conflict-Sensitivity – concept to impact” Donor Policy and conflict sensitivity in Sri Lanka - A literature review,’ (Saferworld/CSA Consortium)

  • Report with Hashitha Abeywardena, ‘Case studies of conflict sensitivity in consortium members’ projects,’ (Saferworld/CARE/PCA/CSA Consortium)

  • Report with Hashitha Abeywardana & Thomas Ansorg, ‘Conflict-Sensitivity Assessment of EC programmes in Sri Lanka,’ (Saferworld, June 2009)