Advice
Supporting teams and organisations to develop strategies, solve problems, evaluate approaches, and learn.
The challenge
Current understandings of armed groups are often distorted or incomplete. This leads to flawed and failed approaches to dealing with these groups. This is a widespread, persistent challenge affecting humanitarian and development work, human rights, the private sector, and peacebuilding efforts alike.
Part of the problem is that relevant expertise is often siloed or hard to access. Moreover, concerns over confidentiality and the high-risk nature of this work tend to inhibit trust. Responses to these challenges also tend to be focused on lessons learned from the past, without an adequate appreciation of how the nature of violence is changing - and how to adapt.
How we work
We respond to operational challenges, convening on-demand briefings and support. We tailor our advisory services to urgent issues and emerging dynamics. Drawing on our expert network, we bridge the gap between research and policy, ensuring that rigorous evidence reaches decision-makers in real-time.
Our advisory work includes supporting teams to develop policy on armed groups, evaluate their approaches, and plan for contingencies. Clients include national governments, non-governmental organizations and UN agencies.