The Asian Development Bank (ADB) works with a number of developing member countries facing fragile and conflict-affected situations---circumstances that complicate economic development, and might include domestic or international conflict, ethnic tensions, vulnerability to natural disasters, or a confluence of these factors. ADB piloted the peacebuilding tool in Nepal as a conflict-sensitive approach, a key to effective and safe implementation of projects in the country's post-conflict context. The peacebuilding tool is an analytical tool for assisting project team leaders and social experts in understanding the local context, and in identifying potential risks to implementation of development projects that are linked to social conflicts, as well as in formulating mitigation measures for addressing these risks.

The 2011 WDR on Conflict, Security and Development underlines the devastating impact of persistent conflict on a country or region's development prospects - noting that the 1.5 billion people living in conflict-affected areas are twice as likely to be in poverty. Its goal is to contribute concrete, practical suggestions on conflict and fragility.

Efforts by international organizations to integrate or mainstream peacebuilding across the diverse spectrum of humanitarian and development work has tended to be opportunistic and ad hoc. This paper seeks to clarify key terms, explore organizational frameworks and initiatives, provide some practical guidance, and list references or links to both thematic and procedural sources.

"The impetus for this special Working Paper on Conflict Sensitivity (CS) emerged as KOFF swisspeace hosted a three-day Conflict Sensitivity Expert Retreat from 30 September to 2 October 2014 in Oberhofen, Switzerland. The retreat brought together some 40 leading international experts in CS from think tanks, NGOs, universities and donor agencies aiming to 'take conflict sensitivity to the next level'. Skillfully guided through a facilitated process, retreat participants engaged in critical reflection and experience-sharing in a creative and innovatory spirit. The process laid the foundation for the emergence of a community of practice on CS--the Conflict Sensitivity Community Hub (CSC-Hub)--which launched a range of actions intent on ensuring the topic continues to receive dynamic attention, critique and reflection. This Working Paper collection, comprising the reflections of different CSC-Hub participants, is one such action. Covering much discursive ground, the Working Paper is structured into four analytical chapters made up of thirteen concise yet substantive contributions."--Page 3.