CDA Collaborative Learning Projects is a non-profit organization committed to improving the effectiveness of international actors who provide humanitarian assistance, engage in peace practice, and are involved in supporting sustainable development. Our newsletter provides updates on our recent activities and publications, including reports on what the projects are learning right now. For more information on who we are and what we do, please visit our website and staff directory.  

In the previous CDA newsletter, I remarked on the many positive comments about CDA that I had received from colleagues around the globe as I moved into the role of Executive Director. Indeed, it is a source of immense pride to have the opportunity to steer CDA through the next stage of its evolution. However, like all successful organizations, CDA must continually examine its work for relevance, appropriateness and utility.

When the Do No Harm (DNH) book was published in1999, it was heralded for acknowledging that well-intended assistance could have negative consequences, as well as positive benefits, for the intended recipients. In making this observation, DNH implicitly focused attention on the broader impacts of assistance beyond the immediate humanitarian imperative to save lives and alleviate suffering. In the interim, other CDA projects have brought similar perspectives to bear on the work of peace practitioners, development professionals and company-community ventures. Our aim has been to make assistance more durable and beneficial to recipients.

We must hold ourselves accountable to the same standards and, therefore, with learning as a core function of the organization, it is timely that CDA reviews its own processes for capturing and reporting our achievements. Over the next 12-24 months, we will develop a more robust system to monitor and evaluate our accomplishments – a system that will probe not just what we achieve but also whether those achievements are worthwhile. Our goal is to ensure that CDA remains at the cutting edge of learning and innovation. We will seek inputs from many partners and supporters who form the readership of this newsletter. I encourage your frank and constructive feedback as we embark on this process.

Cheers, Steve

Do No Harm Guidance Note on Using Dividers and Connectors This draft paper brings together some of the key issues surrounding the use of Dividers/Connectors Analysis. It includes a short discussion of issues, some questions for unlocking D/C analysis, a simple D/C analysis plan and a brief checklist. Comments would be appreciated! DNH will also produce "guidance notes" on a range of topics in the coming months. If you want to learn more about the notes or join a working group, let us know.

Listening Project Issue Paper: Structural Relationships in the Aid System In nearly every place the Listening Project has visited, people have talked about how many different actors are involved in the "aid industry." This Issue Paper explores the number and type of organizations operating in recipient societies and the complex (and often mysterious) relationships these actors have with each other, which create a difficult system for local people to navigate. There are many aspects of this crowded field which people talk about, including the range of actors, the nature of their relationships with each other, competition and coordination. We welcome your reactions and reflections.

Corporate Engagement Project EcuaCorriente Report Field Visit Report on the Ecuadorian Mining Company EcuaCorriente is now available on the CDA website in both English and Spanish . The visit took place as the company prepared to reinitiate mining operations in the light of new legislation and regulations. (Aug 2009)

New Listening Exercise Report
Mindanao, Philippines (August 2009)

 New LP Issue Papers
• “Structural Relationships in the Aid System” (Mar 2010)
• “The Importance of Listening.” (Mar 2010)

Reflecting on Peace Practice Cumulative Case Consultation Report Published Here (Jan 2010)

Revised Advanced (RPP II) Training Manual The new manual focuses on the application of systems thinking to conflict analysis and program design. The advanced RPP training workshop materials include a revised simulation scenario titled “Ubuntuland” (for use in Africa) and “Dominia” (for use in Asia). All materials are available in both English and French. For more information please email us.

BCPR/UNDP Evaluation RPP completed a review of UNDP conflict prevention programs and presented a report to BCPR.

Publications that Refer to CDA's Work

Can Corporations Get it Right? Jody Liss published a review of Getting it Right on the Foreign Policy Blogs Network. (Feb 2010)

Sustainable Heavy Industry’s Hard Choices Briefing: Heavy Industry Written by Eric Marx for Ethical Corporation’s March 2010 issue on Heavy Industry. The article discusses how “extractive industries have developed initiatives to defeat the resource curse” and features commentary from CEP’s former Project Director Luc Zandvliet about the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on its importance. (Mar 2010)

"Blood Money" Thesis on Corporate Citizenship & the Oil/Gas Sector in Burma Nicky Black, Univ. of Waikato, PhD thesis, references CEP’s engagement with Total SA in Myanmar/Burma. It is available online. (Apr 2010)

Do No Harm in Asia Nicole spent two months visiting our colleagues in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Philippines, and Cambodia. She held four Feedback Consultations and did the field work for three case studies. (Feb – Apr 2010)

RPP systems group in Washington, D.C. RPP convened a group in Washington, D.C. to discuss the application of systems thinking to peacebuilding work. (Feb 2010)

“The Fundamentals of Peace." Berghof Foundation for Peace Support, ICAR/George Mason and the International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution/Columbia University sponsored a meeting in Washington, D.C. (Feb 2010)

Exploring Joint Strategy in Northern Uganda Peter visited Uganda to explore how RPP might support members of the Learning Community in northern Uganda and to integrate RPP lessons and tools into joint strategies for addressing the conflicts. (Mar 2010)

Workshop in Washington, DC Dayna co-facilitated a roundtable discussion organized by CDA, 3D Security, GPPAC, USAID, AfP, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars entitled, “Civil Society and the US Government in Conflict-Affected Regions: Building Better Relationships for Peacebuilding.” (Mar 2010)

CEP Consultation on Rapid Conflict Assessment Tool In collaboration with World Vision, PDAC, and the Devonshire Initiative, CEP held an open consultation in Toronto for feedback on the Rapid Conflict Assessment Tool for Exploration. (Apr 2010)

Meeting in Nairobi with Interpeace In Nairobi, Peter met with Interpeace partners from Rwanda to help them strategize on how to have better impact on policy. (Apr 2010)

Workshop in Nairobi on Theories of Change Peter ran a workshop for CARE and International Alert with their partners in Uganda and the DRC on theories of change research. (Apr 2010)

DNH in Canberra Marshall worked with AusAID’s Crisis Prevention Stabilization & Recovery Group and the Afghanistan team to develop and deliver a training program for complex environments. (Apr - May 2010)

RPP in Kathmandu Peter and Diana gave an RPP II Training and Feedback Workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal. (May 2010)

CDA Staff Meeting As we do every quarter, the whole gang got together to discuss our future. (May 2010)

LP Feedback Workshop in Bogotá, Colombia (May 2010)

CEP Meeting in Bogotá, Colombia Dost will attend a meeting on corporate due diligence and human rights in conflict settings in Bogotá to present on the findings of CEP about opportunities and challenges for companies working in conflict settings. The meeting will be held by the Institue of Human Rights and Business. (May 2010)

CEP visit to Coal Company in Colombia and Oil Company in Siberia (May-June 2010) 

"Linking Conflict, Aid, and Development" at American University Dayna, Diana, and Marshall will combine the efforts and insights of three of CDA's projects to teach a week long course at AU in Washington, D.C. Find out more about the course and how to register! (Jun 2010)

UN Global Compact Leaders Summit Dost will attend the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit, which will launch "Responsible Business in Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas: Guidance document for companies and shareholders," which CEP has co-authored. (June 2010)

LP Feedback Workshop in London (June 23, 2010) If you are interested in attending or finding out more about this feedback workshop, please email us!

RPP Final Consultation on the cumulative case studies (tentative Jun/Jul 2010)

Additional UNDP/BCPR Evaluations RPP will continue to work with UNDP/BCPR and the Framework Team for Conflict Prevention to schedule additional program evaluations.