No state is immune to violence, making prevention universally relevant. National leadership and ownership should be at the core of conflict and violence prevention efforts, as States bear primary responsibility for building peaceful and resilient societies.
Despite growing political momentum, prevention efforts are often not initiated or fully implemented. This is often driven by uncertainty about whether prevention will yield tangible and attributable results. That uncertainty, in turn, frequently stems from a limited understanding of what prevention entails and how to implement it effectively (which can lead to overly simplified strategies based on false assumptions), and from a reluctance to acknowledge its complexity and respond accordingly.
Against this backdrop, NYU’s Center on International Cooperation (CIC), in partnership with the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), has developed Policy Guidance for Effective National Prevention Strategies to support countries in designing NPSs and better aligning international support behind these efforts.
This tool aims to:
An accompanying Practical Guide provides steps, recommendations, and examples to support the development of NPSs.
The findings presented in these tools draw on a desk review of cross-regional NPSs identified in 88 countries across the areas of violent conflict, violent extremism, and violent crime, as well as reviews of related evaluations. They are also anchored in broader research on violence and prevention. The research also draws on interviews and convenings with practitioners involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of NPS worldwide, including with members of our Advisory Group on National Prevention Strategies: Prakash Bhattarai, Bernadette Black, Luis da Costa Ximenes, Mai Eleimat, Tarek Ghazel, Chris Ngwodo, Renzo Rosal, and Hawa Samai (see their bios below). In addition, it benefited from periodic exchanges with World Bank and UN colleagues, as well as consultations with civil society organizations and regional development banks. The findings and content were also presented to and discussed with a cross-regional group of Member States, including in bilateral settings, to gather further insights.
The NYU Center on International Cooperation (CIC), in partnership with the Australian Government, has developed evidence-based, voluntary policy guidance for national prevention strategies. This document aims to build on decades of research and practical experience in conflict and violence prevention to support national actors in designing or strengthening their NPS while allowing for context-specific approaches
This guide is intended to support the use of NYU’s Center on International Cooperation (CIC)’s Policy Guidance for Effective National Prevention Strategies (NPSs) in developing an NPS. It discusses common challenges in developing an effective NPS, framed as questions to be addressed, and helps users think through possible solutions by providing practical considerations and examples. It is designed as a problem-solving tool for in-country decision-makers and practitioners, as well as their international partners.
Download the one-pager overview of the Policy Guidance for Effective National Prevention Strategies tool.
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