The authors of the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies’ (BICC) discussion paper “How can the HDP nexus work from the bottom up?” use decolonial critique to gain insights into how the HDP approach works in theory and in practice – with research in Iraq, Mali, and South Sudan.

In the paper, it is argued that “the power imbalances addressed by the decolonial movement pose a particular challenge for the HDP nexus, as the HDP approach intervenes in local conflicts and their inherent power dynamics by including peace activities.”

Based on ‘spotlight’ case studies in Iraq, Mali, and South Sudan this observation was empirically tested. Key findings from these case studies show that the HDP approach is not implemented bottom-up as promised. Instead, existing power imbalances are rather reproduced than overcome and the aspiration of apolitical peacebuilding is not met.

Despite these findings the research project endorses the HDP nexus approach: “By adopting a decolonial lens that makes power imbalances more visible, the HDP nexus offers a chance to uncover and reflect on the political positioning of international humanitarian actors in their respective contexts of intervention. Only when such power imbalances are reflected in day-to-day aid operations can they be addressed and the influence of local actors on project design be increased.”

Read more about the comprehensive research project on the HDP nexus and the case studies on its implementation in Iraq, Mali, and South Sudan on the website of the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies.