At a high level roundtable in central London, IDS brought together representatives from UK Government departments, the European Union, NGOs and the academic community to discuss the implications of the growing convergence between development and security priorities. The meeting also explored what more needs to be done in order to develop an integrated approach to conflict and development. 

Participants were asked to consider three key questions:

• What are the implications of intensifying development-security convergences for development actors?
• How can development and security communities work together more effectively to maximise the impact of official development aid in fragile and conflict-affected contexts?
• What is the place of conflict and security in formulating new thinking and strategic approaches to development in the future?

Discussants also heard from IDS fellows Jeremy Allouche and Jeremy Lind and partners from West Africa and the Horn of Africa about IDS-led research, that examined how international development policy and practice is increasingly being shaped by security concerns. 

The day's discussions will be fed into a final report from IDS which will include a set of policy recommendations. If you are interested in receiving a copy of this report please contact Hannah Corbett at h.corbett@ids.ac.uk.

Video

We asked a selection of participants to give us their reflections on how development and security actors could work together more effectively to design and develop interventions for greater stability in fragile states. Hear what they said in this short video.

Photo: Svenn Torfinn / Panos