Action by KfW Entwicklungsbank
REINTEGRATING EX-COMBATANTS
War and conflict destroy infrastructure and leaves many people homeless. Source: Jochen Brähmig
The countries and regions in which KfW Entwicklungsbank supports reconstruction and peace development programmes include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Zimbabwe, the Balkans and the Palestinian Territories
On behalf of the Federal Government KfW Entwicklungsbank supports programmes that promote lasting peace in these areas. Early crisis prevention is a part of it. This is to prevent new or preventing conflicts from turning violent. The goal is to reduce structural causes of conflict at local, regional or national level. In concrete terms, this means ending economic discrimination of individual groups and competition for scarce resources. Non-violent conflict management supports all players of society and government.
Non-Violent Reconciliation of Interests
The programmes supported by KfW Entwicklungsbank promote democratic principles in order to enable a lasting stabilisation: legitimacy and transparency of the state, ending of political violence and repression, participation of the population in the political decision-making process, dialogue between conflicting parties and a culture of non-violent reconciliation of interests.
War and conflict leave many people homeless. They are driven out of their homes and forced into refugee camps - if there are any. Returning and reintegrating them into the structures of society is a major precondition for a lasting peace and successful stabilisation in a post-war country.
Former soldiers and combatants in particular find it difficult to readapt to society and to participate once again in regular economic activity. The demobilisation and reintegration programmes supported by KfW Entwicklungsbank enable ex-combatants and refugees alike to reintegrate into civilian life. Under these programmes they are shown options for a new livelihood that provide them with a chance to peaceably improve their life situation through their own efforts.
Secure Income
High unemployment, extreme social inequality, poverty and lack of prospects, particularly among young people, are potential causes for new conflict and violence among the population. Therefore, employment and vital income are crucial prerequisites for stabilising a country after a violent conflict. The employment programmes supported by KfW Entwicklungsbank provide opportunities for paid work during the initial post-war period. This strengthens the people's potential to help themselves and makes them less dependent on external aid. In the long term these programmes also contribute to revitalising the economy of post-war countries by kick-starting local economic cycles.
A frequent cause of conflict is the maldistribution of opportunities and the discrimination of different ethnic groups. This usually means that these people are excluded from political decisions and are particularly poor. High crime rates and a high potential for violence are the consequence. KfW Entwicklungsbank therefore supports ethnically, politically or socially discriminated groups of the population in particular. It encourages their participation in the political decision-making process and thus promotes civil society. In this way it contributes to the long-term re-establishment of social structures that permit a peaceful reconciliation of interests.
Swift Reconstruction
Without a functioning social and economic infrastructure, a post-war country hardly has a perspective for the future. Fast and visible reconstruction sends out positive signals and consolidates peace in the post-war situation. Moreover, it meets the basic needs of the population and is a precondition for any further development. KfW Entwicklungsbank therefore supports projects aimed at establishing social facilities and public buildings such as schools and health centres, it provides financing for housing and road construction, it supports the reconstruction of the water and energy supply as well as sanitation infrastructure. These programmes deliberately take into account disadvantaged groups of the population or regions and thus defuse any additional potential for conflict.
Last updated: July 2011
