United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR), in partnership with the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, the World Bank and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Governments of Norway, Switzerland, and the UK, is leading the Managing Exits from Armed Conflict (MEAC) project – a multi-year, multi-country effort to build a common, robust evidence base on conflict exits and evaluate the impact of various United Nations programmes that seek to support individuals and communities exiting armed forces and groups and transitioning to civilian life.
MEAC’s goal is to ensure that policymakers and practitioners on the ground have the information necessary to craft coherent, evidence-based, and effective policies and programmes. Ultimately, a better understanding of the factors that facilitate exits from armed conflict, and conflict transitions more broadly, will enhance the international community’s capacity to interrupt conflict cycles and support transitions towards sustainable peace.
Focusing specifically on data related to conflict exits, UNU-CPR undertook a review of existing data management guidelines, policies, and practices intended to inform MEAC’s own data management procedures. This policy memo builds on bilateral consultations, workshop findings, and a review of existing data management and protection guidance. The memo starts by exploring the current state of management and integration of conflict exit-related data across the UN as well as challenges, opportunities, and benefits to enhancing data integration in this space. From there, the memo identifies MEAC’s data management and integration needs and potential ways forward for the project. It concludes with considering ways to further data integration beyond MEAC in order to build the international community’s capacity to effectively support conflict exits going forward.
Access the Policy Memo here.
