Chapter 36

Cross-Departmental Review of conflict prevention

Scope

The cross-departmental review of conflict prevention looked at the Government's objectives, priorities and machinery for responding to conflict in sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world. The review considered Government activities in peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations as well as activities designed to prevent the occurrence of conflict in the first place. The review made proposals on how policy instruments and resources can be deployed more effectively and achieve greater impact.

Background

36.1 Promoting international peace and stability is a key element of British foreign policy. It is central to our security, and essential for our objectives of promoting democracy, good governance and human rights. It is necessary for the sustainability of the global economy and for tackling poverty and social exclusion.

Outcomes

36.2 The cross-departmental review examined coordination between departments and concluded that - whilst arrangements for dealing with crises worked well - there was scope to strengthen arrangements for collective priority setting. Revised arrangements are now in place.

36.3 In addition, the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Foreign Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development (DFID) have all adopted a shared target for conflict prevention, to be included in each of their Public Service Agreements, as set out in Box 36.1.

Box 36.1: Key PSA targets - conflict prevention

Improved effectiveness of the UK contribution to conflict prevention and management as demonstrated by a reduction in the number of people whose lives are affected by violent conflict and by a reduction in potential sources of future conflict, where the UK can make a significant contribution.

36.4 As a result of the review, the Government has concluded that conflict prevention expenditure should, in future, be brought together in two pooled budgets - one for Africa (where almost half of all war-related deaths occur) and one for the rest of the world. These budgets will be managed jointly by the departments concerned.

36.5 The pooled budgets will include sums for programmed conflict prevention expenditure, plus an amount to cover forecast operational and peacekeeping expenditure. Expenditure on military operations and peacekeeping is hard to forecast. The amounts shown in the table for these items are therefore indicative, and will be reviewed annually before this element of the budget is disbursed to departments.

36.6 These new arrangements will facilitate proactive spending on conflict prevention. In many situations effective international action at this stage can prevent the human suffering and greater expenditure that arises from conflicts and their aftermath.

36.7 The pooled budgets will ensure that FCO, MOD and DFID spend the funds according to shared objectives and priorities. In addition, the pooled budgets should enable swifter and more effective interventions.

Spending plans

36.8 Planned expenditure on conflict prevention is summarised in Table 36.1. Programme funds for conflict prevention in Sub-Saharan Africa are included as a ring-fenced element in DFID's Departmental Expenditure Limit. Programme funds for conflict prevention in the rest of the world are included, similarly ring-fenced, in FCO's Departmental Expenditure Limit. However, both these funds will be managed jointly by the MOD, FCO and DFID.

Table 36.1: Key figures

£ million
	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04
Sub-Saharan Africa (indicative)	115	110	110
of which: Programme	50	50	50
Peacekeeping/enforcement (indicative)	65	60	60
Rest of World (indicative)	400	448	458
of which: Programme	60	68	78
Peacekeeping/enforcement (indicative)	340	380	380
Total (indicative)	515	558	568