Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict

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Violent conflicts today are complex and increasingly
protracted, involving more nonstate groups and regional
and international actors. It is estimated that by 2030—the
horizon set by the international community for achieving
the Sustainable Development Goals—more than half of
the world’s poor will be living in countries affected by
high levels of violence. Information and communication
technology, population movements, and climate change
are also creating shared risks that must be managed at
both national and international levels.

Pathways for Peace is a joint United Nations†“World
Bank Group study that originates from the conviction
that the international community’s attention must
urgently be refocused on prevention. A scaled-up
system for preventive action would save between
US5 billion and US70 billion per year, which could
be reinvested in reducing poverty and improving the
well-being of populations.

The study aims to improve the way in which domestic
development processes interact with security, diplomacy,
mediation, and other efforts to prevent conflicts
from becoming violent. It stresses the importance of
grievances related to exclusion—from access to power,
natural resources, security and justice, for example—that
are at the root of many violent conflicts today.
Based on a review of cases in which prevention has
been successful, the study makes recommendations for
countries facing emerging risks of violent conflict as
well as for the international community. Development
policies and programs must be a core part of preventive
efforts; when risks are high or building up, inclusive
solutions through dialogue, adapted macroeconomic
policies, institutional reform, and redistributive policies
are required. Inclusion is key, and preventive action
needs to adopt a more people-centered approach that
includes mainstreaming citizen engagement. Enhancing
the participation of women and youth in decision
making is fundamental to sustaining peace, as well as
long-term policies to address the aspirations of women
and young people.