Women and the integrated management of localised social conflicts

There are many concerns regarding the visible and long-term outcomes of development aid policies. We agree that development funding does exist. But can the expected outcomes be achieved when the recipient countries are in the midst of a conflict? At this critical juncture, do the people benefiting from aid truly understand the language of development? We realise that communities are trying to minimise their financial contribution, but they are not actively engaged. Furthermore, the 'gender' approach is not yet effective due to the role tradition assigns to women. All sections of the local population, and women in particular, must be genuinely involved in the activities of a development project in order to uphold the principle of balance that is essential to the world. In this respect, we must move towards 'mobilised development' rather than 'stagnant development'. Whilst we may aspire to social homogeneity, the realities on the ground are not sufficiently malleable to ensure complete success. This is a matter for developers and decision-makers.