In 2007, the Conflict Research Group became part of an international research consortium coordinated by the Institute for Development Studies in Brighton (UK), which analyses the micro-dynamics of contemporary armed conflicts. Within this EU-funded project, the CRG is leader of a Work Package on governance and institutions, which also involves two other projects on water management and violent conflicts (undertaken by UNU-EHS and BICC), and on citizenship and land rights (by Fafo AIS). The CRG-project examines the incidence of local governance structures and institutions on violent conflict in the DR Congo, Sudan and Ivory Coast. The project will construct sensitive indicators of non-state governance and how these hold a potential for the improvement of political/human security using two broad analytical scopes. First, it will develop an analytical framework to evaluate the outcome of household strategies in relation with the local alliances, networks, and agencies that determine access to goods, services and rights during times of violent conflict. A second strand of research will focus on the ‘scaling’ and ‘sitting’ of these relationships along a sociological and geographical scale. The project will involve primary data collection based on individual interviews and participatory methods in the case studies. Local partners in DR Congo, Sudan and Cote D’Ivoire will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the fieldwork. Regular outcomes in the form of working papers, articles and policy briefs can be expected in the course of the project.

• Funded by: European Commission Sixth Framework Programme (2007-2011)
• Partners: see micron website: www.microconflict.eu