The Challenge
The Humanitarian Development Peace (HDP) nexus suggests a way to bridge the gaps between these three traditionally separate fields. Since 2017, Uganda has been among the first countries to pursue a Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDP) approach within its Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). An INGO, focused on child safeguarding and child protection, with a strong track record in linking humanitarian and development interventions strived to further integrate a peace dimension into their planning processes and subsequent implementation. Their starting point was the portfolio in Uganda. The initial idea was to develop a guidebook for staff and partners on how to build resilience of the most vulnerable children, families, and communities and overcome climate change related shocks by linking emergency relief, development and peacebuilding work.
Our Approach
We started by reviewing the existing procedural guidance documents for the elaboration of humanitarian or development projects, seeking entry points to anchor conflict-sensitivity, disability inclusion, and gender responsive approaches, as well as key elements of the HDP nexus, such as Collective Outcomes and Joint Analyses. Additionally, we suggested pathways to engage with relevant humanitarian, development, and peace actors and how to link the organisation’s projects in Uganda to the national HDP process. Given that climate change adaptation is an integral factor in building resilience and reducing vulnerability risks for children, families, and communities, we conducted training for staff from various projects on the use of the HDP Nexus Guidebook, collaboration with local climate change experts to ensure that this cross-cutting aspect is well considered. By including administrative staff in the training activities, the organisation demonstrated its commitment to conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding not only at the project level but also used this opportunity to promote the integration of "HDP Nexus thinking" into the organisation's DNA in Uganda.
The Results
The HDP Nexus Guidebook we developed serves as a supplement to the organisation's procedural guidelines for project development and management. It explains the cornerstones and key terminology of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approach and suggests HDP nexus inspired actions at different planning and implementation stages of the project cycles. It’s practical application by trained project staff will enhance the project’s contributions to peace and support the upscaling of the HDP nexus approach in other countries where the INGO provides assistance to children, families and communities in need.