Conflict prevention is central to poverty reduction and sustainable development. Not only is the human cost of conflict devastating but its impact on the political, social and economic development of a country and often its surrounding region is profound. The benefits of development assistance are all too often reversed by the outbreak of violent conflict. The cost of engaging in conflict prevention and peace-building, therefore, will ultimately be far lower than the financial burden of reacting to the outbreak of violent conflict and of supporting reconstruction in the aftermath of war.

OECD governments in the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) continue to increase and improve their efforts to help fragile, conflict-prone, and conflict-affected countries establish structures and mechanisms to manage change and political conflict through democratic and peaceful means. DAC work in the area of conflict prevention and peace-building is carried out primarily through its subsidiary body, the Network on Conflict, Peace and Development Co-operation (CPDC).

As a forum for sharing knowledge, experience and best practice, the CPDC strives to improve the effectiveness of aid and the coherence of Member policies in fragile, difficult, and/or conflict-affected countries. In 2003, in conjunction with the DAC Network on Governance and Capacity Building, the CPDC established a Fragile States Group, which focuses on improving aid effectiveness to fragile states and with which the CPDC engages when addressing crisis countries.

The Network seeks to connect with, and disseminate its expertise to, other DAC and OECD bodies, policy makers in foreign affairs, trade and defence communities, and state and non-state actors outside the DAC membership. Based on consultations, policy dialogue and information exchange, the Network develops guidance to shape policy and operations in a positive and constructive manner. This guidance is provided through policy papers, statements and recommendations, and through documents on best practices and lessons learned.

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