Comparative analysis of WHO “Health as a Bridge for Peace” case studies
Written by: Gregory Hess and Michaela Pfeiffer
Introduction to the comparative analysis of WHO Health as a Bridge for Peace case studies
Purposes of the synthesis
- To provide a summation and comparative analysis of WHO Health as a Bridge for Peace (HBP) experiences from Angola (1994-1997), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1997-1998), Eastern Slavonia (Croatia) (1996-1997) and Haiti (1991-1994).
- To draw general conclusions from these experiences as documented in four case studies in order to recommend strategic approaches for HBP policies and programmes.
Structure of the synthesis
This document is comprised of six sections. Following the Introduction, a comparative analysis of the case studies has been laid out in matrices.
- Section II contains a comparative matrix of the overarching contexts in which the case studies were conducted.
- Section III is a matrix summarising WHO’s mandate and organisational positioning in the different complex political emergencies.
- Section IV contains an analysis of the application of HBP in each emergency, arranged in a matrix according to key issues and questions.
- Section V places the case studies experiences in a peacebuilding frame to assess what impact the health sector has had on peace processes.
- Section VI is a discussion of some of the key factors and considerations which can be drawn from the case studies.
- Section VII contains a list of background documents used in the preparation of the synthesis.
Background documents
The primary texts for this synthesis are the case studies of the aforementioned field experiences. Background information on the conflict and the interventions were drawn almost exclusively from the case studies. The four case studies were commissioned by WHO Department of Emergency and Humanitarian Action (EHA) thanks to a grant from OFDA/DFID-UK.
In preparing the synthesis, it was felt that extensive external research could give undue balance to certain features and shift the focus from what was done to what could have been done. In areas of this synthesis which appear incomplete or shallow, the information was not available or discernable from the case study.
The reference baseline is the Report on the First World Health Organization Consultative Meeting on Health as a Bridge for Peace (30-31 October 1997) and the accompanying background documents to this consultation.
Defining “Health as a Bridge for Peace”
In the initial Consultation (October 1997), Health as a Bridge for Peace (HBP) “was said to reflect a ‘spirit’ rather than a specific definition”. This spirit of HBP was summarised as follows: “In achieving the primary goal of health for societies prone to and affected by war, we as health professionals recognize responsibilities to create opportunities for peace. For this we need new strategies, awareness, stance, skills, and partners.”
Drawing from the experiences documented in the case studies, the following working definition of HBP is proposed for purposes of comparative analysis and as a baseline for recommendations of future programme development:
“Health as a Bridge for Peace is the integration of peacebuilding concepts, principles, strategies and practices into health relief and health sector development”.
This working definition reflects how the authors of this paper have interpreted WHO’s peacebuilding role and applied that interpretation to the comparison of WHO’s peacebuilding initiatives.