Repeated violence and high levels of organised violent crime, often linked to political activities, characterise many development contexts. Yet their repercussions for the security and rights of the poor as well as their economic wellbeing are poorly understood. This programme will generate practical policy options for states and citizens so they can better address and mitigate violence in both rural and urban settings.

Led by Jeremy Lind, policy analysis under this theme focuses on ‘newer’ forms of violence and organised crime as well as the changing dynamics of long-standing situations of violence. Through policy analysis of actors and governance at multiple levels, the programme aims to better understand the contributions and possibilities for convergence between state and non-state stakeholder efforts in different policy spaces.

Specifically, the programme makes practical contributions in the following inter-related fields: strengthening core state functions and citizen agencies to mitigate and prevent violence, widening access to economic opportunities, services and livelihoods in violent contexts, and crafting workable strategies and interventions to reduce cross border spillovers in violent and fragile contexts.

The programme provides practical guidance on how to promote economic opportunities and interventions that support more effective governance and improved access to livelihoods. It will also assist in crafting workable strategies and interventions to reduce cross border spillovers in violent and fragile contexts.

For knowledge resources on topics such as identity politics and conflict, religion and extremism, and transnational actors and flows, visit www.ids.ac.uk/violence where you can access for free all ouputs from the programme.