The challenge

Fragility, conflict, and violence have grown exponentially since 2010, accounting for 80% of all humanitarian needs. By 2030, at least half of the world’s poor people will be living in fragile and conflict-affected settings. During conflict, government presence decreases, students are forced out of school, making them more vulnerable and at risk of violence, forced labor, illicit economies, and permanent displacement. Their opportunities are reduced even more since the cohesion of the community is harmed by lack of trust and capacity of self-organization. Government and NGOs spend heavily on rebuilding infrastructure and repairing facilities, even if evidence shows that social—not physical—infrastructure is the main driver of resilience. The objective of our project is to help communities to improve resilience through self-organization in order to make better use of economic and social resources inside and outside of the community to overcome these complex crises.

Global impact

Globally, more than 2 billion people live in countries affected by conflict, driving 80% of the world’s humanitarian needs (World Bank, 2019). These complex crises threaten efforts to end extreme poverty, and often increase tensions between social, ethnic and age groups. Resulting instability and threats of violence drive people from their homes and prevent access to food, water, health services, and shelter. 75 million children aged 3 to 18 live in countries facing war and violence (Global Partnership for Education, 2019). During conflict, government presence decreases, students are forced out of school, making them more vulnerable and at risk of violence, forced labor, illicit economies and permanent displacement. Their opportunities are reduced even more, since the cohesion of the community is harmed by lack of trust and capacity of self-organization.

Unfortunately, when facing conflict and crisis, low income and underserved communities are less likely to overcome disasters, economic challenges, unemployment, etc. Community resilience is defined as “how communities have the potential to function effectively and adapt successfully in the aftermath of disasters” (Berkes, F., & Ross, H., 2013). International agencies and governments spend in building infrastructure and repairing damaged facilities in despite evidence that social, not physical, infrastructure drives resilience (Aldrich & Meyer, 2015).

The Global Peace Index calculated that the impact of violence on the global economy is equivalent to 12.4% of global GDP. In the 10 most affected countries, it ranges between 30 and 68%. Because of this, United Nations has identified that “governments require support in their effort of sustainable development, increasing their abilities to proactively manage risk and strengthen resilience in order to better respond crisis by environmental, social and economic factors.” (UNDP, 2017), conflict, and violence have grown exponentially since 2010, accounting for 80% of all humanitarian needs. By 2030, at least half of the world’s poor people will be living in fragile and conflict-affected settings. During conflict, government presence decreases, students are forced out of school, making them more vulnerable and at risk of violence, forced labor, illicit economies, and permanent displacement. Their opportunities are reduced even more since the cohesion of the community is harmed by lack of trust and capacity of self-organization. Government and NGOs spend heavily on rebuilding infrastructure and repairing facilities, even if evidence shows that social—not physical—infrastructure is the main driver of resilience. The objective of our project is to help communities to improve resilience through self-organization in order to make better use of economic and social resources inside and outside of the community to overcome these complex crises.