This page explains how we selected our current conflict areas and our plans for future development.

Choosing the conflict areas

Our initial selection of areas was driven by the need to test the feasibility of the project. We chose areas which would provide challenges in terms of the availability and accessibility of information. As the site develops momentum, our decisions will be guided by the following:

• Insight on Conflict should have the potential to increase understanding of the situation. For example, identification of peace initiatives could enable a more systematic approach to conflict resolution for policy makers and funders; provide the media with and additional and untold perspective on the conflict; or offer practitioners a better chance of success by raising their profile and networking capabilities.
• Insight on Conflict should be focused towards some areas which are off the radar of the media and policy makers; where conflict is likely to re-erupt; and/or where the learning may be relevant to other conflicts.
• Insight on Conflict can only operate in areas from which it will be relatively easy to seek cooperation (including identifying the local correspondent), without jeopardising the security of people involved.

The conflict areas so far...

• Colombia;
• Nepal;
• Niger Delta;
• Sri Lanka; and
• Sudan.

Plans for the future

We have recently secured local correspondents in the following conflict areas:

• Kenya;
• Kosovo;
• Northern Ireland;
• Philippines-Mindanao; and
• Southern Thailand.

We hope to be fully operational in these areas within the next few months, which will bring the number of conflict areas covered by Insight on Conflict to ten. We are currently also looking into the possibility of working in the Basque Country. Within the next six or seven years we hope to cover a total of 30 areas.