Using the ‘Do no Harm’ Approach in Conflict-Sensitive Areas

Mr. Sartu W. Doe, is a Research and Documentation Assistant, at the New Africa Research & Development Agency (NARDA), a partner organization of Civil Peace Service (CPS) Liberia Network.

 Mr. Doe is also the Focal Person on Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning, oversees evidence-based research, as well as documents and provides content for publications.

He also plays a vital role in programme planning and facilitates training and mentoring sessions for project activities. Mr. Doe along with ten other staff from CPS partner organizations completed Bread for the World (BftW), CPS, ‘Do no Harm’ practical training and provided support to the facilitation process.

 ‘Do no Harm’ is a conflict-sensitive framework and practice used for aid project interventions in conflict areas. It creates the sensitivity of project managers and staff to prevailing issues that have the propensity of escalating tensions.

His organization, the New African Research & Development Agency (NARDA) has worked with other partner organizations on the approach. “Some partner organizations are now using the tool and learning the approach in the implementation of programs.” According to Mr. Doe.

 “We have been actively engaged with partners at the community level using the approach in project planning and implementation.”

“We also use the contemporary project implementation steps for conflict-sensitive programming. These include assessing the situation or context using content tools like force field, perception questionnaires, etc.” Mr. Doe says.

 Mr. Doe recounts a story in Barkuma, Voinjama, District, Lofa County, northeastern Liberia, where a land dispute between two communities was resolved using the ‘Do No Harm’ approach and mediation skills.

 During the 2023 Presidential and General elections in Liberia, Mr. Doe says their focus was engagements with stakeholders before, during, and after the elections. During these engagements, they called for non-violent free, and fair elections in Liberia.

The training, he notes, “Will complement our interventions in conflict-sensitive contexts where our projects are being implemented and will create awareness among NARDA and project staff.

He said the training enabled him to know people’s experiences and realities and identify conflicts in different contexts. He believes that the framework could be effective for peace-building initiatives, especially on the impact the learning will have on his organization’s intervention in land harmonization. They are now cognizant of the principles and practice of ‘Do No Harm’ in their planning and implementation of projects.