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The conference “Risk and Results Management in Development Co-operation: Towards a Common Approach” took place in Copenhagen on 25-26 November 2010. It was organised by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and co-hosted by The Humanitarian Policy Group at the Overseas Development Institute and the OECD/DAC International Network on Conflict and Fragility (INCAF).

Development co-operation is political in nature. This is particularly true in high-risk environments, where engagement impacts the behaviours, priorities, influence and power of different groups. High-risk environments could provide tremendous opportunities to deliver positive results, as long as international actors are prepared to take informed political and programmatic risks to facilitate the necessary change.

However, current approaches are not always appropriate given the nature of the contexts concerned. There is also a difference between situations of fragility, humanitarian crises, or in other development contexts. Hence, risk analysis needs to take into account the specificities of each situation.

The international community lacks a concerted and agreed upon way to manage and mitigate risks. This conference took stock on where we are now and what could be the path forward.

At the conference, key note speakers representing prominent international actors discussed how they deal with risk and results management and participants were provided with an opportunity to discuss lessons learnt from different country contexts in a set of work-shops and, looking ahead, suggest practical recommendations for follow up.

Summary of conclusions can be downloaded here.

>>For additional resources (country briefs, background notes, etc.), please visit the website of the Danish  Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Text provided courtesy of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs