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Beyond Silos: Integrating Peace as a Transformative Practice in Fragile Contexts

The discussion at the Paris Peace Forum critically examined the challenges of operationalizing the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The central tension revealed was the pervasive tendency to relegate peacebuilding to a secondary pillar, rather than embedding it as a fundamental, cross-cutting practice that actively shapes all humanitarian and development interventions. Panelists underscored that true effectiveness is contingent upon a paradigm shift: from merely delivering technical solutions to fostering deep-seated relationships, trust, and inclusive governance at every level of engagement.

Moderator Dorothee Hutter, Country Director for GIZ in Ethiopia, set the stage by emphasizing that development gains and even military successes in fragile contexts are inherently reversible unless anchored in sustainable peace. She posited that peacebuilding is not a mere "nice-to-have" activity but an essential driver connecting humanitarian and development efforts. This foundational idea was expanded by Caroline Delgado (Director of the Food, Peace and Security Programme, SIPRI), who argued that while delivering technical solutions (such as land restoration or water systems) is often straightforward, the far greater challenge lies in altering "how people and institutions relate to each other." Delgado advocated for rethinking peace not as a distant goal or a passive backdrop, but as a "continuous process" built on trust, inclusion, solidarity, and fairness, evolving through dynamic relationships. This redefinition transforms peace into a "way of working"—an inherent component of every decision, partnership, and program design, ensuring that interventions actively strengthen social bonds rather than exacerbate existing tensions.

Ambassador Mamman Nuhu (Executive Secretary, Lake Chad Basin Commission), provided examples from his region, where traditional practices like transhumance, while vital for livelihoods, frequently trigger conflict due to governance gaps and resource scarcity. He stressed that any effective intervention must prioritize "inclusiveness," ensuring all stakeholders—from pastoralists and farmers to local authorities—are integral to planning and execution; excluding any group, particularly primary resource users, guarantees failure. To systematically integrate peacebuilding, Ambassador Nuhu proposed innovative mechanisms such as co-designing "Peace and Corridor Compacts" with standardized rules for resource use, establishing "Civil-Military De-escalation Cells" at border points for real-time dispute mediation, and creating "Interoperable Transhumance Identity Cards" with harmonized regulations across borders.

Jebessa Bekonjo Senbeta (Founder and Strategic Advisor, Development for All) brought a crucial grassroots perspective from Ethiopia, detailing the enges faced by local civil society organizations. He cited shrinking civic space, which restricts efforts to promote human rights and accountability, and the prevalence of "siloed funding streams" that hinder integrated programming. Senbeta also highlighted the detrimental impact of short funding cycles on long-term trust-building initiatives, coupled with a lack of institutional sustainability for local actors. Despite these hurdles, he identified significant opportunities, particularly in leveraging the "uniquely positioned" and locally trusted civil society organizations that can deftly navigate conflict environments. His call to strengthen and empower these local actors resonated with Eva Junyent Izquierdo, EU HDP Nexus Coordinator, who detailed the EU's Team Europe initiative in Ethiopia’s Somali region. This test case aims to overcome fragmentation by utilizing shared tools like "HDP Profiles" for joint context analysis, "HDP Planning Tables" for coordinated implementation, and a dedicated "HDP Coordination Platform" to bring government and community actors together.

Ultimately, the panel articulated that durable peace in fragile settings cannot be externally "delivered" but must be organically "built" through an intentional, inclusive, and relationship-centric approach. This necessitates a fundamental reorientation of international engagement, government-led coordination structures that prioritize local ownership and integrate peace considerations into the fabric of humanitarian and development programming, thereby transforming systemic vulnerabilities into sustainable resilience.



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