Center for Sustainable Economies
part of the Centers of Innovation
Center Highlights
New Blogs on the International Network for Economics and Conflict (INEC):
- Replacing Violent Battles with Budget Battles: The Budget as a Source of Political and Institutional Stability in Iraq
- Subsidies and Suffering in Nigeria: Exploring Conflict-Sensitive Economic Policy in Fragile States
- Promoting Peace & Protecting Human Rights: Business Operations in Conflict Zones
- The Youth Revolt: A New Frontier of Conflict
- Unlocking the Potential of Burma’s Private Sector
- Complete listing of INEC blogs organized by country and theme (PDF - updated February 2012)
Past Events and Multimedia
A Roadmap for Effective Economic Reconstruction in Conflict-Affected Regions | October 26, 2011
This half-day event will bring together leading scholars and experienced practitioners to build on an online discussion hosted by USIP’s International Network for Economics and Conflict and the insightful commentary by a distinguished panel of experts, who reviewed aspects of the World Bank's 2011 World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development. View more information | Audio
Revisiting Strategies for Post-Conflict Economic Recovery: Assessing the Findings of the 2011 World Development Report | August 3-4th, 2011
This two-day eSeminar reviews the 2011 World Development Report and considers effective economic reconstruction strategies for countries/regions that have been affected by violent conflict. View More Information | Read the Discussion
Media Library
Download, listen, access photos, and watch media files from past events and activities from Sustainable Economies.
Recent Publications
Reconstruction Zones in Afghanistan and Haiti
USIP Special Report | October 2011 by Graciana del Castillo | The record of countries coming out of war or chaos is dismal: roughly half of them fall back into crises, and, among the other half, most end up highly aid dependent. The author has developed a proposal for reconstruction zones as a way to jump-start the economies of conflict- and disaster-affected countries in a dynamic and inclusive way, by improving aid effectiveness and accountability.
The Economics of Peace Five Rules for Effective Reconstruction
Special Report | September 2011 by Graciana del Castillo | During the immediate transition from war or chaos, reconstruction is not development as usual: The peace (or political) objective should prevail at all times over the development (or economic) objective. Without peace there cannot be development.
Leadership, Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in the DRC
USIP Special Report | September 2011 by Kitenge N’Gambwa | Since the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) gained its independence in 1960, the country ’s leadership has been lacking three attributes of the utmost importance to the country’s welfare: a real vision for the DRC’s future, the competence and ability to execute the vision, and the character needed to ensure the realization of the vision with sound judgment, integrity, and equity.
Leadership
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Director, Center for Sustainable Economies
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The Center for Sustainable Economies (CSE) leads USIP’s work on the economic dimensions of conflict management and peace promotion. CSE contributes to the body of knowledge relating to how economic programs are developed and implemented in conflict zones. Specifically, the center does this through:
• Research
• Working in Conflict Areas
• Teaching
In collaboration with other USIP centers and a range of partners, CSE develops and implements integrated strategies for effective solutions related to economic activity at all stages of the conflict cycle.
On This Page:
CSE Featured Photos
Initiatives and Key Activities
International Network for Economics and Conflict (INEC)
INEC is a comprehensive one-stop web tool for practitioners of economic development working in fragile states. It offers periodic blog posts from leading scholars in the field, a wide ranging resource library, and a calendar of upcoming events related to economics and conflict. It offers information on the latest research and policy insights for practitioners working in this field.
- Complete listing of INEC blog posts organized by country and theme (PDF - updated February 2012)
- View the eSeminars: Business and Peace (March 2011) or WDR Review (August 2011)
The Role of Civil Society in Monitoring Afghanistan’s Extractive Industries
This project will empower civil society organizations in Afghanistan by developing tools for monitoring key socio-economic indicators, establishing a multi-stakeholder forum to promote accountability and publishing findings and recommendations. The project will also develop a data sharing system that will facilitate information flows.
Business and Peace Taskforce
The Business and Peace Taskforce is a high-level group of practitioners, scholars and policymakers convened to examine creative strategies the business sector could adopt to promote peace. The Taskforce is co-hosted by USIP’s Center for Sustainable Economies and George Washington University's Institute for Corporate Responsibility.
- View the Draft Report
- View the Business and Peace Taskforce Member Biographies
Economic Reconstruction in Post-Conflict Countries
The transition from humanitarianism to self-sustaining economic development in conflict-affected countries often requires significant investments in human capital and infrastructure, as well as wide-ranging policy reform. Focusing policy attention and investments in economic reconstruction zones provides an opportunity for conflict-affected countries to create economic development nuclei that could trigger and sustain lasting socio-economic benefits. This project has featured multiple public events, publications and blogs, which include:
- USIP Special Report on The Economics of Peace, Five Rules for Effective Reconstruction by Graciana del Castillo
- USIP Special Report on Reconstruction Zones in Afghanistan and Haiti by Graciana del Castillo
- USIP Event: A Roadmap for Effective Economic Reconstruction in Conflict-Affected Regions
- View all Economic Reconstruction Blogs on INEC
Explore Further
Responsible and Sustainable Development
Past projects emphasized the role of community-led, sustainable, and responsible development in creating successful long-run peace. The center’s work focuses on anti-corruption measures, a strong and sustainable private sector, and corporate social responsibility, which includes:
- Private Sector Anti-Corruption Workshops and Model Code in the DRC, and the DRC Diaspora Dialogue Series
- Tourism in promoting Community Development
Conflict-Sensitive Economic Tools and Methods
The center recognizes that conflict-sensitive development is imperative for success in conflict-affected states. The center’s work in this area involves development of conflict-preventative economic tools, economic reconstruction, and economic aspects of mediation. Projects include:
- Economic Aspects of Mediation
- Manual on Macroeconomic Stabilization in Conflict Affected States