10 Years of HDP Nexus: ZIF Xchange highlights progress and challenges in practice

To mark the publication of the new “HDP Nexus Best Practice Compendium,” international experts gathered at our latest ZIF Xchange event to discuss a decade of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus.

What is the HDP Nexus?

The Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (HDP Nexus) describes the coherent interconnection between humanitarian aid, development cooperation, and peacebuilding.

The goal is to develop joint and coordinated solutions particularly in fragile contexts to reduce the need for emergency aid in the medium term. Furthermore, it seeks to consolidate long-term development processes in a manner that is as conflict-sensitive as possible.

New Compendium Brings Together Experiences from 22 Countries

Under the title “HDP Nexus at 10: A Decade of Progress(?),” we invited international and national experts to a hybrid ZIF Xchange on October 14. The event marked the launch of the new HDP Nexus Best Practice Compendium, which was developed as part of the German HDP Nexus Community of Practice, coordinated by ZIF.

The compendium is a comprehensive collection of successful practice of the last ten years:

• 27 contributions from 18 partner organisations
• Involvement of over 35 local partners
• Projects in 22 countries across four regions (South Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa)
• A broad range of topics, from food security, mental health, and migration to climate change adaptations, as well as women, peace, and security

Perspectives from Politics, Academia, and Practice

During the panel discussion, experts from various fields reflected on achievements as well as existing challenges. The panel brought together perspectives from civil society, academia, government, and multinational financing mechanisms:

• Marthe Wandou, attorney, women’s rights activist, and Right Livelihood Award Laureate
• Dr. El Hadji Malick Sy Konare, regional Nexus expert (UNDP / Lake Chad Nexus Funding Facility) and ZIF-seconded expert
• Damjan Vinko, Senior Advisor for Institutional Partnerships (Norwegian Refugee Council Germany) & Ph.D. candidate (University of Freiburg)
• Henriette Sachse, Deputy Head of Division, Crisis Management, Reconstruction, and Transitional Development Assistance at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Key Takeaways: Strengthening Integrated Approaches, Breaking Down Barriers

The review clearly demonstrated that, in everyday practice, the three pillars often intertwine quite naturally. The experiences of the past decade underscore how crucial it is to consider these areas holistically in order to avoid falling back into isolated, siloed approaches.

At the same time, the panelists identified clear needs for reform. In particular, they criticized the funding and project cycles of international donors, which often remain too short, as well as the lack of transparency toward local actors. In light  of shrinking resources and growing needs, the HDP Nexus represents an effective approach for delivering sustainable solutions in protracted crises.

The key takeaway of the evening: Effective and sustainable implementation of the HDP Nexus can only be achieved through genuine trust in the capacity and expertise of local partner organisations.